To describe the main features of the younger group of patients hospitalized (January 1st and December 31st) in the Acute Psychiatry Unit of a General Hospital in Bologna (Northern Italy), comparing their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and their needs with those of the adult patients admitted.

Retrospective consultation of case-histories concerning 111 subjects (60.4% men) randomly selected. Chi-square and independent sample T-test used to compare 33 cases (≤21 years) and 78 controls (35-49 years).

Young-cases had a higher prevalence of parental separation (31% vs 2.7%; p< 0.001) and were more frequently adopted (18.8% vs 0%; p=0.01). Psychomotor agitation or etero/self-aggressiveness (36.4%) and personality disorders (12.1%) were the most prevalent causes of hospitalization among the younger group, whereas psychosis (32.1%), mood disorders (19.2%) and alcohol-substances dependence (11.5%) were more common in controls (p< 0.001). Presence of unfavorable life-events was two-fold higher in cases than in controls (p=0.074). In particular, quarrels with family (40%) or friends (20%) and substance abuse (13.3%) occurred especially in young individuals. In adults, mournings/separations and rejection therapy were more frequent (p=0.017).

Hospitalization's features (type, length, number of laboratory and instrumental exams) were not significantly different among the two groups, except for frequency and number of interviews and childpsychiatrists and educators’ care provided that prevailed in cases.

The young population admitted in our acute psychiatric ward has a complex sociorelational and clinical situation requiring a multi-professional management. The frequent need of care in emergent/urgent situation highlights the importance of further studies on this issue.