[Child psychiatric in-patient treatment]

Abstract

This article describes the Danish part of a multinational epidemiological point-prevalence study concerning child psychiatric in-patient treatment, which aims to describe different kinds of treatment methods used in child psychiatric in-patient care. The study includes all 10 child psychiatric in-patient units in Denmark. Data on psychiatric treatment modalities were collected by means of a questionnaire in spring 1990 on 192 children, which included all of the actual in-patients (100%). Primary caretaking was the main treatment method (100%), individual psychotherapy was offered to one third, as was family therapy. Eight percent were medicated, 6% with psychoactive drugs. The study showed that medication in child psychiatric in-patient care was rare, and was never the only treatment method. A range of psychotherapeutic methods were used.