Institutionalizing children and adolescents in private psychiatric hospitals

Admissions of children and adolescents to private psychiatric hospitals have been increasing more and more rapidly in recent years. However, the increasing use of inpatient treatment is not consistent with current theory and research about the mental health needs of children and adolescents; often inpatient treatment cannot be justified on the basis of the admitting diagnosis. Hospitalization has an array of negative effects and is less effective in terms of treatment outcome and cost when compared with community-based alternatives. High rates of admissions continue because of changes in the juvenile justice law, insurance practices, lack of legal protection for youths and children, inappropriate government policy, and the growth and practices of for-profit hospitals. Implications for social policy and social work practice are discussed.