Cluster analysis was conducted to examine clinical characteristics of 10- to 19-year-old boys (N = 1,961) and girls (N = 1,320) with serious emotional disturbance entering systems of care funded by the Center for Mental Health Services. Subscale scores from intake assessment using the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale and the Child Behavior Checklist were included in the cluster analyses to determine whether adolescents could be grouped into identifiable patterns based on functional and behavioral characteristics. Three clusters were identified for each gender. Clusters differed in the severity of subscale scores across boys and girls; however, unique characteristics of clusters were most apparent when both functional and behavioral profiles were examined. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared across clusters to further explore characteristics of these groups.The authors make recommendations for future research on adolescents entering community-based system-of-care services.
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