Adolescent gangs in the hospital

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sociology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Adolescent gang formation is a well-studied sociological phenomenon.
• Gang formation within mental health treatment settings remains under-explored.
• Existing models inadequately address the complexities of hospital-based gangs.

Observation:

• Gang members in mental health units can impede treatment progress.
• Patient and staff safety are threatened by these group dynamics.
• Individuals may leave treatment prematurely without adequate care.

Findings:

• A review of literature and hospital-based gang formation is presented.
• Moral development theory provides a novel explanatory paradigm.
• This framework suggests targeted therapeutic interventions.

Implications:

• Understanding gang dynamics through moral development theory can improve patient outcomes.
• New interventions may mitigate treatment disruption and enhance safety.
• This approach offers a specialized lens for adolescent mental health care.