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Level systems: inpatient programming whose time has passed.
Wanda K Mohr1, Andres J Pumariega
1Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, University of Medicine and Dentistry, Newark, NJ, USA. mohr@umdnj.edu
Summary
Effective inpatient behavioral programming requires enhanced staff education and individualized treatment plans. Moving beyond generic approaches is crucial for complex child and adolescent populations in psychiatric settings.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Behavioral Health Treatment
- Residential Treatment Centers
- Juvenile Justice Mental Health
Background:
- Current inpatient behavioral programming in child-adolescent psychiatric, residential treatment, and juvenile justice settings lacks consistent theoretical underpinnings.
- Existing practices may not adequately address the complexities of the patient population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review the theoretical foundations of current inpatient behavioral programming practices.
- To identify deficiencies and propose evidence-based recommendations for improvement.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature review was conducted, spanning from 1965 to 2001.
- Searches focused on selected nursing, medical, psychiatric, and mental health publications.
Main Results:
- Significant variability exists in the structure and theoretical basis of behavioral programming across different settings.
- A need for enhanced professional and staff education regarding patient behavior communication was identified.
Conclusions:
- Intensive staff training and precise communication are essential for effective behavioral programming.
- A shift from generic to individualized treatment planning, based on thorough patient assessment, is necessary to meet the needs of a volatile in-patient population.