Citation

Boudailliez B, Daroux JL, Dolhem P, Chopin N, Berquin P, Ganry O, Piussan C, Mille C. Ann. Pediatr. (Paris) 1998; 45(5): 311-320.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Societe Edition Assoc, Enseignement Med. Hop De Paris)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Working from data collected at their hospital during a 1989 national survey and from a critical analysis of their approach to managing adolescents, the pediatrics and psychopathology departments of a regional teaching hospital jointly set up an adolescent unit (AU), with the following goals: (1) to meet the needs of the increasing number of children with chronic diseases who survive through adolescence as a result of advances in health care; (2) to provide appropriate care to patients with problems common during adolescence, including suicidal attempts, eating disorders, and medicopsychosocial crises; (3) to satisfy new requirements regarding conditions during hospital stays. The AU comprises five beds in a department that also has ten beds for three- to 12-year-olds, and a 300 m2 day hospital center in another part of the hospital providing therapeutic recreational and educational activities. The AU operates under a joint agreement between the pediatrics and psychopathology departments (article L714-25 of law 91-748). Quantitative data on adolescent s seen in the emergency room and admitted to the AU are provided. The mode of operation of the AU is briefly described. Based on the experience accumulated since the creation of the AU two years ago the following points are discussed (1) the relevance of the regulations governing the AU; (2) the importance of avoiding to oppose somatic and psychobehavioral problems; (3) the pitfalls of inhospital care of adolescents (regression, recurrent suicidal attempts, prolonged hospital stays, fascination with the aggressive behaviors or eating disorders of other patients). In conclusion, the following deserve emphasis: (1) clear limits to the extent of care provided should be established; (2) the hospital stay should be viewed as a period for evaluating the patient and developing a treatment program; (3) networking with nonhospital professionals involved with the adolescent is essential; (4) health care teams should receive adequate training, and clinical research activities given strong emphasis.

Language: fr

Keywords

adolescence; Adolescence; adolescent disease; Adolescent medicine; Adolescent psychiatry; article; child psychiatry; clinical practice; eating disorder; health care policy; Health policy; Hospital department; hospitalization; Hospitalization; medicine; practice guideline; psychological aspect; somatization; suicide attempt; teamwork