Treatment settings for adolescent psychiatric conditions.

The intensive psychiatric treatment settings, including inpatient hospitalization, day programs and residential care, are valuable options for clinicians caring for adolescents with serious mental health problems. The availability of these setting may be limited by geographic, insurance, or financial restraints, but providers should stay informed about the treatment settings available in their area and be prepared to advocate for their adolescent patients' psychiatric needs. Although little evidence-based practice is available to guide clinicians taking care of adolescents in need of the most intensive psychiatric treatment settings, certain elements of care have proven most essential, including especially the successful engagement of families in treatment. Good outcomes for the most complicated adolescents follow from successful collaborations with families and the various providers that intersect in their multidisciplinary care.