Psychiatric hospital treatment of children with autism and serious behavioral disturbance.
Children with autism spectrum disorder are psychiatrically hospitalized much more frequently than children in the general population. Hospitalization occurs primarily because of externalizing behaviors and is associated with behavioral disturbance, impaired emotion regulation, and psychiatric comorbidity. Additionally, a lack of practitioner and/or administrator training and experience with this population poses risks for denial of care by third-party payers or treatment facilities, inadequate treatment, extended lengths of stay, and poor outcomes. Evidence and best practices for the inpatient psychiatric care of this population are presented. Specialized treatment programs universally rely on multidisciplinary approaches, including behaviorally informed interventions.
Developmental Disorders Program, Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Tufts University School of Medicine, Spring Harbor Hospital, 123 Andover Road, Westbrook, ME 04096, USA. Electronic address: siegem@springharbor.org.
Matthew
M
Siegel
Robin L
RL
Gabriels
D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Autism; Hospitalization; Inpatient; Intellectual disability; Psychiatric