University Times

Troubled teenagers who need intense treatment to help them recover from emotional or behavioral problems can turn to a new program offered by Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.

The Adolescent Acute Partial Hospitalization Program (AAPHP) allows teenagers to live at home, but gives them the same level of treatment they would get if they were inpatients.

AAPHP, with locations in Wexford and Clairton, lets teens use skills learned in the program to cope with real-life issues.

"This program fills the gap between inpatient and outpatient programs," said Craig Coleman, director of the Clairton facility. "It's effective treatment because coping skills are reinforced as they're used every day." The short term program serves three different groups of teenagers:

* Former inpatients can use it as a "step-down" treatment because it offers them structure so they can continue to recover.

* Teenagers who don't get adequate care through outpatient programs can use it as a "step-up" in treatment.

* Adolescents in immediate need can be referred to the program by parents, therapists or hospital emergency room staff.

"We made this program as family-friendly as possible," said Patricia McGuire, a staff member at the Wexford center. "Family and community input ensures teens get the proper treatment." AAPHP provides short-term services to adolescents with emotional or behavioral problems such as depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, poor impulse control, psychosis, unsafe coping skills or substance abuse combined with family, social and school problems.

The Clairton AAPHP center can reached by calling 469-2170 and the Wexford center at 933-9235. All calls are confidential.