[Clinical characteristics of children and adolescent hospitalized in a university psychiatric clinic].
BACKGROUND
Five percent of children and adolescents consults in mental health services in one year. Approximately one every ten children has a mental health problem.


OBJECTIVE
To assess clinical and demographic factors of children and adolescents hospitalized by psychiatric cause in a university psychiatric clinic.


METHODS
Review of medical records of 167 subjects aged 9 to 17 years, 97 women, admitted to a Psychiatric Service in the period 2001-2004. The International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) manual of the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA) was used to classify admission complaints and symptoms and DSMIV to classify psychiatric disorders.


RESULTS
Mean hospital stay was 11+8 days. The main admission causes were suicidal attempts and psychomotor agitation/impulsive behavior in 54% and 26% of cases, respectively. The main psychiatric diagnoses were depressive disorder, suicide attempt and bipolar disorder. In 69% of patients, the personality diagnosis was deferred. Only 25% of families were considered functional.


CONCLUSIONS
Affective disorders and suicidal behavior are the main psychiatric diagnoses at discharge in children and adolescents admitted to a psychiatric impatient service.
Pacheco P
Bernardo
B
Departamento de Psiquiatría, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. bejupa@vtr.net
Lizana C
Paula
P
Celhay S
Isabel
I
Pereira Q
Jaime
J
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data