OBJECTIVE: To assess prevalence figures for psychiatric disorders among institutionalized adolescents due to behavioural problems and/or delinquency. METHOD: Participants were recruited from consecutive referrals to/or treated at two Swedish adolescent units, SIS1 (n = 60) and SIS2 (n = 70) with ranging age of 12-20.3 years (mean age = 16.2; SD = 1.8) during 1 year. Clinical and diagnostic information was used to generate DSM-IV diagnoses. RESULTS: One or several neuropsychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 53% of all subjects: 39% met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), 15% for a pervasive developmental disorder (referred to as autism spectrum disorders, ASDs) and 8% had a mental retardation (referred to as a learning disability, LD). The collapsed prevalence for psychiatric disorders requiring specialist attention was 66%, counting severe depression and psychotic disorders but not substance use. About one in three of all adolescents in the study were given psychopharmacological treatment. CONCLUSION: Published studies and this clinical survey clearly indicate that systematic studies of mental health needs among institutionalized adolescents are warranted to form the basis of adequate treatment and support measures.
OBJECTIVE: To assess prevalence figures for psychiatric disorders among institutionalized adolescents due to behavioural problems and/or delinquency. METHOD:Participants were recruited from consecutive referrals to/or treated at two Swedish adolescent units, SIS1 (n = 60) and SIS2 (n = 70) with ranging age of 12-20.3 years (mean age = 16.2; SD = 1.8) during 1 year. Clinical and diagnostic information was used to generate DSM-IV diagnoses. RESULTS: One or several neuropsychiatric disorders were diagnosed in 53% of all subjects: 39% met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD), 15% for a pervasive developmental disorder (referred to as autism spectrum disorders, ASDs) and 8% had a mental retardation (referred to as a learning disability, LD). The collapsed prevalence for psychiatric disorders requiring specialist attention was 66%, counting severe depression and psychotic disorders but not substance use. About one in three of all adolescents in the study were given psychopharmacological treatment. CONCLUSION: Published studies and this clinical survey clearly indicate that systematic studies of mental health needs among institutionalized adolescents are warranted to form the basis of adequate treatment and support measures.