ANASAZI Outcome Studies
New Studies Released in 2002 / 2003:
Previous Studies (1968 - 2001)
In November 2001, the University of Idaho (Keith Russell,
Ph.D., 603-862-3047) published a study of client outcomes in eight participating
outdoor behavioral healthcare programs (including ANASAZI Foundation). Treatment
outcomes were evaluated through client reports and parent assessments of adolescent's
well-being at admission and discharge utilizing the Youth Outcome Questionnaire
(Y-OQ). Results of the study indicated that participation in OBH programs led
to statistically significant reduction in the severity of behavioral and emotional
symptoms. When comparing the results of this study to other outcome studies
using Y-OQ, ANASAZI showed greater score reductions in shorter treatment durations
than alternative interventions. Visit the University
of Idaho Wilderness Research Center to view results of current studies (Aug.
2002)
Current and ongoing outcomes studies are conducted by Mark
A. Widmer, Ph.D., at Brigham Young University (801 378-3381) using data
collected from admission social histories and surveys taken at six weeks, one
year, and three years after discharge. In data collected July 1, 1996 through
June 31, 2000, 83% of parents reported they are satisfied or extremely satisfied
with their experience at ANASAZI. Less than 5% reported placing their child in
inpatient care after ANASAZI.
In January 1996, an outcome study was conducted under the
direction of S. Harold Smith, Ph.D. of Brigham Young University. The study was
facilitated using the pre-admission data of 239 participants from 1993-1995 and
comparing the data with a post participation questionnaire. In addition, data
was collected regarding the parents' evaluation and satisfaction. The results of
the study suggest that 52% of those discharged from the ANASAZI program had
either no recurrence or a minor recurrence of presenting problems. Of those
graduates who experienced a recurrence of presenting problems 86% received few,
if any, fee-based treatments after leaving ANASAZI. Concomitantly, 53% of the
parents indicated the program had a positive affect on their child's attitude.
Further, 73% of the parents rated ANASAZI's program as excellent.
In September 1991, ANASAZI Foundation participated in the
JM Foundation's Search for Excellence in Rehabilitation. Thirty participants
treated for chemical dependency during 1990 were surveyed for long term
treatment success. Of those surveyed, 77% had maintained total abstinence from
use of alcohol or other controlled substances. At the time of the survey, 20% of
those who had relapsed were maintaining abstinence and reported finding
solutions within the family.
In September 1990, LDS Social Services surveyed 40 program
participants referred from June 1988 to July 1990. When asked about their
experience at ANASAZI, 93% reported positively. When asked about treatment by
ANASAZI staff, 100% answered positively.
Note: Data collected between 1988 and 1995
reflects parents' perceptions of their child's behavior. Changes between
pre-admission and post-discharge may indeed be due to participation in the
ANASAZI program. It is also possible, however, that these changes are due to
extraneous influences such as maturation and history. Comparisons between
other forms of treatment (hospital, residential, etc.) may be the most
appropriate use of this data.
During 1968-74, both nationally and locally developed
personality and self-concept measurement tests were given to participants before
and after a wilderness survival experience as developed by ANASAZI founder Larry
D. Olsen. In a measure of self-concept and related attitudes--consistent,
positive changes were found in more than 80% of the participants' evaluations of
their moral-ethical attitudes, personal identities, family relationships, social
relationships, and general behavior. One year later it was found that the
initial positive, personal changes were generally maintained.
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