title: Paediatric assessment in a residential child and adolescent psychiatry unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To document the health status, comorbidity and functional impairments experienced by a group of psychiatrically disturbed children and adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A detailed study of consecutive admissions to a residential unit over a two-year period was undertaken. All admissions had a comprehensive paediatric, speech pathology and psychiatric assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the general population, there was a significant history of developmental delay and low birthweight, but only a slightly greater prevalence of antenatal problems. Clumsiness (37%), severe speech and language disorder (32%), and hearing loss (15%) were prominent. Only 25% had no history of comorbid medical or neurological disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children and adolescents presenting with moderate to severe mental health morbidity may have pre-existing comorbid medical problems, as well as unrecognised difficulties and impairments in other skills areas. Multidisciplinary assessment and intervention should be an integral part of the residential programme.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McDermott
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012114:Residential Treatment; D014904:Western Australia