How to deal with sexual acting-out on the child psychiatric inpatient ward.

1. Although the management of sexually abused children is not new, a comprehensive approach is often lacking, especially as it pertains to dealing with sexually acting-out children. 2. In addition to the usual social work measures of child protection, a program of developmentally and psychoeducationally based interventions supplemented by behavioral techniques were found to be most effective. 3. Acting-out children often provoke reactions of rage, betrayal, and impotence among the staff. Discussions of interventions must take into account the staff's own philosophy about how sexuality should be taught to these children. 4. The treatment team leader must decide whether the sexual acting-out among children is due to active solicitation from sexually abused children, delinquent acting-out, or age-appropriate exploration.