title: A clinical study of competency in child psychiatric inpatients.
abstract: A 17-item competency questionnaire, modified for use with children and adolescents (CQ-ChP), was used to evaluate competency to consent to hospitalization and treatment in child psychiatric inpatients. A total of 25 consecutive English-speaking psychiatric child inpatient admissions were studied. Demographic data were statistically analyzed using chi 2, and there were no significant statistical differences between the competent and incompetent groups (using CQ-ChP scores and cut-offs). The various demographic/clinical variables and scores on the questionnaire were also statistically evaluated using chi 2. The only statistical significance was the association between reading level and competency with a value of p < .05. Therefore, by achieving a reading level at the fifth-grade standard, subjects were found to be competent as measured by the CQ-ChP.
authors.affiliation: New York Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Billick
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Burgert
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Serlen
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bruni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D005260:Female; D005555:Forensic Psychiatry; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D009518:New York; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016312:Treatment Refusal