Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T07:24:42.106Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A 15 month follow-up study of children admitted to a child psychiatric inpatient unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Declan Sheerin ,
Roseann Maguire  and
Jean Robinson
Declan Sheerin
Affiliation:
Child and Family Centre, Drogheda, Ireland
Roseann Maguire
Affiliation:
University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
Jean Robinson
Affiliation:
Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen, Scotland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: This study focused on measuring symptomatology and self-esteem in children admitted to an inpatient child psychiatric unit.

Method: Twenty-six children consecutively admitted to a child psychiatric unit were assessed using the Rutter Parent Interview, the Birleson Depression Scale and the Harter Self Perception Profile for Children. Children were followed up at three and 15 months post-discharge and the same measures administered.

Results: A stay in the unit was linked with a significant reduction in overall symptomatology and this was particularly so for emotional-type symptoms at both follow-up points and for hyperactive-inattentive symptoms at 15-month follow-up. The unit did not appear to be successful at reducing conduct symptoms at either followup. Nor did self-esteem change significantly following an inpatient episode. Children with depressive symptoms especially appeared to benefit both in the short- and longterm and this benefit extended to self-esteem.

Conclusions: When analysing the benefits of an inpatient admission it is crucial to consider outcome and therefore efficacy on a long-term basis. Efficacy needs to take into account longer-term outcomes. The impact of an inpatient episode on a child's psychosocial adjustment will for some children take time. These ‘sleeper effects’ need further study.

Keywords

Child psychiatryInpatient unitsSymptomatologyDepressionSelf-esteemOutcome
Type
Brief Reports
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 16 , Issue 3 , September 1999 , pp. 97 - 103
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Woolston, JL. Psychiatric inpatient services for children. In: Lewis, M (ed). Child and adolescent psychiatry: a comprehensive textbook. 2nd ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1995.Google Scholar
2.Berlin, IN. Developmental issues in the psychiatric hospital treatment of children. Am J Psychiat 1978; 135: 1044–8.Google Scholar
3.Schulman, JL, Irwin, M. Psychiatric hospitalisation of children. Springfield, Ill.Charles C Thomas, 1982.Google Scholar
4.Barker, P. The results of inpatient care. In: Barker, P (ed). The Residential Psychiatric Treatment of Children. London: Crosby Lockwood Staples, 1974: 294–309.Google Scholar
5.Harper, G. Focal inpatient treatment planning. J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiat 1989; 28: 31–7.Google Scholar
6.Trabin, T. Towards greater accountability for quality: more science less art? Behav Healthcare Tomorrow 1994; 3: 1–8.Google Scholar
7.Riddle, MA. Research on a children's psychiatric inpatient service. J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiat 1989; 28: 42–6.Google Scholar
8.Kiser, LJ, Millsap, PA, Hickerson, Set al.Results of treatment one year later: child and adolescent partial hospitalisation. J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiat 1996; 35: 81–90.Google Scholar
9.Blotcky, MJ, Dimperio, TL, Gossett, JT. Follow-up of children treated in psychiatric hospitals. Am J Psychiatry 1984; 141:1499–1507Google Scholar
10.Pfeiffer, SI, Strzelecki, SC. Inpatient psychiatric treatment of children and adolescents: a review of outcome studies. J Am Acad Child Adol Psychiat 1990; 29: 847–53.Google Scholar
11.Wrate, RM, Rothery, DJ, McCabe, RJ, Aspin, J, Bryce, G. A prospective multi-centre study of admissions to adolescent inpatient units. J Adol 1994; 17: 221–37.Google Scholar
12.Rothery, DJ, Wrate, RM, McCabe, RJ, Aspin, J, Bryce, G. Treatment goal-planning outcome findings of a British prospective multi-centre study of adolescent inpatient units. Eur Child Adol Psychiat 1995; 4: 209–20.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Nurcombe, B, Gallagher, RM. The clinical process in psychiatry. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1986.Google Scholar
14.Parry-Jones, WLI, Brooks, RG. Economic appraisal of child and adolescent psychiatry: a necessity for service development. In: Harris-Uendriks, J, Black, M, (eds). Child and adolescent psychiatry: a new century. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1986.Google Scholar
15.Graham, P, Rutter, M. The reliability and validity of the psychiatric assessment of the child: II. Interview with the parent. Br J Psychiat 1968; 114: 581–92.Google Scholar
16.Rutter, M, Tizard, J, Whitmore, K. Education, health and behaviour. London: Longman, 1970.Google Scholar
17.Goldberg, DP, Williams, P. A users guide to the General Health Questionnaire GHQ. Windsor: Nfer-Nelson, 1988.Google Scholar
18.Bowling, A. Measuring health: a review of quality of life measurement Scales. Open University Press: Milton Keynes, 1991.Google Scholar
19.Birleson, P. The validity of depressive disorder in childhood and the development of a self-rating scale: a research report. J Child Psychol Psychiat 1981; 22: 73–88.Google Scholar
20.Ivarsson, T, Gillberg, C. Depressive symptoms in Swedish adolescents: normative data using the Birleson Depression Self-Rating Scale (DSRS). J Affect Disord 1997; 1: 59–68.Google Scholar
21.Harter, S. Developmental perspectives on the self-esteem. In: Hetherington, EM (ed). Handbook of child psychology, Vol. 4, Socialisation, Personality and Social Development. New York: Wiley, 1983.Google Scholar
22.Harter, S. Manual for the self-perception profile for children. Denver: University of Denver, 1985.Google Scholar
23.McGuire, S. Measuring self-concept in children. ACPP Rev Newsletter 1994; 16:83–7Google Scholar
24.Hoare, P, Elton, R, Greer, A, Kerley, S. The modification and standardisation of the Harter self-esteem questionnaire with Scottish school children. Eur Child Adol Psychiat 1993; 2: 19–33.Google Scholar
25.Norusis, MJ. The SPSS Guide to Data Analysis for SPSS/PC+. Chicago: SPSS Inc., 1992.Google Scholar
26.Achenbach, TM. Manual for the Child Behaviour Checklist/4-18 and 1991 Profile. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry.Google Scholar
27.Cantwell, DP. Classification of child and adolescent psychopathology. J Child Psychol Psychiat 1996; 37: 3–12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Rutter, M, Cox, A, Tupling, C, Berger, M, Yule, W. Attainment and adjustment in two geographical areas. I: The prevalence of psychiatric disorder. Br J Psychiat 1975; 126: 493–509.Google Scholar
29.Birleson, P, Hudson, I, Buchanan, DG, Wolff, S. Clinical evaluation of a self-rating scale for depressive disorder in childhood (Depression Self-Rating Scale). J Child Psych Psychiat 1987; 1: 43–60Google Scholar
30.Green, J. Inpatient psychiatric units. Arch Dis Child 1992; 67: 1120–3.Google Scholar