[The adolescent psychiatric unit as a treatment environment: responsibility and control of activities]

Adolescent patients as well as members of the psychoeducational staff were interviewed concerning the duty to and (experienced) control of everyday activities during residential treatment. Results show a high correspondence between the two samples concerning duty and control as well as a clear distinction between strong and less obligation to single activities. Moreover, there are "duty differentials" in a sense that educational persons in most items are scoring slightly higher than patients do. Discussion deals with the question, whether or not an intensively controlled therapeutic field may lead our patients toward increasing autonomy.