The birth of child and adolescent neuropsychiatry: from rehabilitation and social inclusion of the mentally handicapped, to the care of mental health during development

Abstract

Child and adolescent neuropsychiatry services' development is described from early deinstitutionalization, through to rehabilitation, intervention and social inclusion of children with disability. The issues that have changed the services in order to meet the growing mental health problem, and the protection of mental well-being trough developmental years, are then dealt with in detail. Finally we draw a picture of the organization of child and adolescent neuropsychiatry services in Italy and in the different regional contexts.