[Initial findings in a catamnestic study of 155 hospitalized children with behavioral and psychosomatic disorders]

In 1980 the Psychotherapeutic Department of the University Clinic for Pediatrics carried out a follow-up study on all children and adolescents with behavioral and psychosomatic disturbances who had come in as in-patient treatment between 1974 and 1979. 153 out of 150 questionnaires were returned and the statistical results may be considered representative of the entire patient group treated at the hospital. The minimal duration of the catamnesis is one year, the average duration is about three years. There is significant agreement between therapists and parents in their evaluation of the success of the therapy. Our article describes the therapeutic change in the children's symptoms in general and in comparison to the various diagnosis and also the change in different aspects of behavior. According to the parents, the therapy resulted in a significant and lasting improvement for 50% of the children; if we include the category "decrease in symptoms", the success rate goes up to 80%. Also described is the parents' point of view on the impact of the individual family's problems on the children' disturbances and on the development of family dynamics. As our Department lays special emphasis on family therapy the parents' attitude toward this aspect is interesting: according to the follow-up study, 50% of the parents consider family therapy to be one of the main reason for therapeutic success.