Psychiatric Hospitalization of School-age Children

The psychiatric hospitalisation of the school-age child - from making the initial decision to planning treatment to providing for aftercare - is fraught with potential pitfalls. In this guidebook, the special needs of children ages 6-12 are balanced against the stark realities of hospitalisation. The authors address the key issues facing clinicians. Is hospitalisation the best course for a particular patient? When are psychological and/or laboratory tests most useful in making an assessment? How does one design a treatment plan that optimises the care during the hospital stay? Beginning with a historical overview and a review of efficacy studies, the authors discuss hospital admission, evaluation, treatment planning, the phases of hospitalisation, discharge planning and aftercare. They also review the role of individual psychotherapy, the uses of behavioural techniques, group therapy, and family approaches, and the integration of pharmacotherapy into the total treatment process. For each chapter, the authors outline obstacles that confound delivery of optimal care within various inpatient settings.
Supported by literature reviews, this guide integrates research with clinical and administrative issues. It aims to be a useful tool for the clinician seeking practical advice on the inpatient treatment of children.