Advancing Mental Health Research for Young Adults
At The Dorm, we are established leaders in young adult mental health research, with a mission to inform the future of treatment and support lasting outcomes for the next generation.
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The Future of Mental Health Care for Young Adults
Young Adult Research Framework
We know that delivering best-in-class care starts and ends with a commitment to validated data and an unyielding empirical approach. We deliver measurement-based care that is continually responsive and supports meaningful independence for young adults long after treatment.
Population-informed Assessment Metrics
Our assessment approach is designed around the unique challenges and strengths of young adulthood. We use validated measures that are sensitive to these developmental changes and relevant to the therapeutic work happening in real time.
Long-Term Treatment Supports Lasting Mental Health Recovery
We continue to assess our clients from admissions through post-treatment as they grow, transition, and build lives that extend beyond The Dorm. By following progress over time, we’re able to understand what supports lasting change and continually refine care to meet our clients where they are headed next.
Treatment Outcomes That Improve Daily Functioning
Progress matters most when it shows up in life beyond treatment. At The Dorm, we look at outcomes not only to understand what’s changing in the data, but to ensure those changes carry into daily life: relationships, routines, school, work, and daily activities that once felt overwhelming.
This focus reflects clinical significance, meaning that improvements are not only statistically meaningful but also translate into improved real-world functioning and sustained recovery. Our goal is that the growth clients experience here becomes something they can use, trust, and build on as they move forward, sustaining lasting change long after treatment ends.
Treatment Informed by Clinical, Family, and Peer Input
We continuously gather qualitative and quantitative data from clients, their families, referring professionals, and our staff, because meaningful care doesn’t happen in isolation. By actively inviting input and paying attention to what’s happening across our community, from clinical groups to family programming and staff experience, we’re able to understand the factors that impact the journeys of The Dorm community members.
Together, this ongoing dialogue allows us to adjust care in real time, anticipate needs before they become obstacles, and support growth that keeps pace with where each person is headed, not just where they’ve been.
Peer-Reviewed Mental Health Research and Clinical Findings
From peer-reviewed publications to national conference presentations, our research continues to shape conversations and industry divisions on outcomes, innovation, and an affirming mixed milieu model for young adults.
Discover our Research Library
Mental Health Outcomes for Young Adults
87%
alumni thriving in careers and academics
131%
improvement in overall client well-being
91%
post-discharge adherence to treatment goals
The Dorm’s Latest Mental Health Research
Our research is never done. We continuously present at nationally-esteemed conferences and publish in clinical journals so we can evolve and maintain industry-leading, evidence-led care.
Research Team
Frank Buono
PhD (External Reviewer)
Associate Research Scientist in Psychiatry, Yale University
What makes our research special is that it is rooted in real-time clinical care, transforming lived experiences of our young adult community into insights that push the field forward.
Brianna Cerrito, MS
Assistant Director, Research & Innovation
Our Outcomes Brought to Life
Uncover the impact of our care through the powerful personal stories of our clients.
Click to DiscoverFAQs About The Dorm’s Mental Health Research
What makes The Dorm’s mental health research credible?
Our mental health research is grounded in consistency, care, and time. We’ve been collecting data for more than seven years using gold-standard metrics that reflect the real experiences of young adults. This long-term approach allows us to track meaningful change, learn what supports sustained improvement, and continually refine care based on what we see and learn
What does “independent IRB approval” mean?
An independent Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Yale School of Medicine oversees our research to ensure our projects are ethical, responsible, and centered on participant well-being. Having independent IRB approval means our research methods are upheld to the highest standard of methodological rigor.
Why is independent IRB approval important?
An independent Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Yale School of Medicine oversees The Dorm’s young adult mental health research to ensure our projects are ethical, responsible, and centered on participant well-being. Having independent IRB approval means our research methods are upheld to the highest standard of methodological rigor.
What is involved in having research presented at national conferences and published in scientific/academic journals?
Research presented at national conferences or published in peer-reviewed journals goes through a rigorous peer-review process by experts in the field. This process evaluates for rigor of methodological design, the strength of the findings, and their relevance to broader clinical practice and the mental health field at large. Sharing our work in these spaces allows us to contribute to ongoing learning in the mental health field and be held to scientific scrutiny to continue offering the highest standard of care for young adults.
Why is in-person young adult mental health treatment important?
In-person young adult mental health treatment is important because it provides an immersive therapeutic environment where healing extends beyond individual therapy. Young adulthood is a developmental stage defined by identity formation, relationships, and increasing independence. In-person care offers real-time opportunities to practice social skills, build meaningful peer connections, receive immediate clinical support, and engage in experiential therapies that are difficult to replicate virtually.
It also allows clinicians to observe nonverbal cues, daily functioning, eating behaviors, hygiene, and interpersonal dynamics, leading to more comprehensive assessment and intervention. For many young adults, the therapeutic community itself becomes a corrective emotional experience, reducing isolation and fostering the sense of belonging that is essential for long-term change.