A controlled evaluation of the therapeutic effectiveness of a psychiatric day centre for pre-school children.

The progress over one year of 25 children aged 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 years attending a psychiatric day centre was compared with that of 25 similarly disturbed 3-year-old children identified in a total population study. There were few differences in outcome, and thost that were found did not particularly favour either group. Implications for the organization of treatment servides are discussed in terms of the need to lay down clear objectives and to pursue systematic controlled evaluation.