A hospital-based crisis service for adolescents: a program description

In the past three decades there has been rapid growth in crisis intervention services. This article describes the development of a hospital-based crisis service for adolescents. This Crisis/Assessment Unit (CAU) has met a community need for a responsive program for adolescents in acute psychiatric crises. The development of the CAU is described and critiqued. In addition, a typical case admitted for crisis services is presented.