Youth-, family-, and professional-rated utility of a narrative discharge letter written to older adolescent psychiatric inpatients.
OBJECTIVE
Little has been written on the value of composing narrative letters to adolescent psychiatric inpatients as rated by those who receive them.


METHODS
Survey of youth, family members, and professionals given copies of a narrative discharge letter written as an alternative to a copy of an initial discharge letter written to the referrer.


RESULTS
Narrative letters conceptualized and validated youth experience, progress, and future directions in a language easily understood by the youth and family members, enabling reflection and empowerment.


CONCLUSIONS
Narrative letter writing is a valuable therapeutic tool to facilitate reflective, empowering partnerships among professionals, youth, and family members.
Bobier
Candace
C
Youth Inpatient Unit, The Princess Margaret Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand. candace.bobier@cdhb.govt.nz
Dowell
Joanne
J
Craig
Brian
B
D000293:Adolescent; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015709:Correspondence as Topic; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006306:Health Surveys; D018939:Holistic Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology; D033262:Narration; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes