Follow-up of short-term child psychiatric inpatient treatment

Abstract

In this study 70 children were prospectively followed up for 5 months after discharge from 4-to 6-week short-term inpatient treatment programs in three child psychiatric wards in Finland. Each child psychiatric ward was the only one in the respective area. The purpose of the study was to investigate the short-term effectiveness of brief, time-limited inpatient treatment programs. Children were evaluated by a parent or parent figure with the Child Behaviour Checklist and Rutter Parent's Questionnaire A2 and by a school teacher with the Teacher Report Form and Rutter Teacher's Questionnaire B2 both on admission to inpatient treatment and at follow-up after discharge. In general, there was a rather remarkable improvement in behaviour. However, two-thirds of the patients were functioning outside the normal range at follow-up. Treatment programs seemed to have more short-term impact on externalizing than on internalizing behaviour problems.

Key Words:

• Child psychiatry
• Follow-up
• Inpatient
• Short-term