The first 100 admissions to a regional general purpose adolescent unit

Details are presented of the first 100 admissions to a regional "general purpose" psychiatric unit for adolescents. Seventy-seven per cent had been referred from other consultants, including 51 per cent from child and adolescent psychiatrists. There was a high incidence of family disruption and disharmony. Apart from a small group of "organic" problems (eight) they were evenly distributed between four major diagnostic groupings: psychotic disorder, conduct disorder, neurotic disorder and mixed conduct/neurotic disorder. Use was made of a variety of treatment approaches and the best outcomes were in the neurotic group (81 per cent some or much improved at discharge) and the psychotic group (68 per cent some or much improved). Attention is drawn to the high rate of "premature" discharge (41 per cent) including 18 per cent expelled because of their behaviour. Nearly 50 per cent of these fell in the conduct disorder group and there are obvious implications for the selection process.