The authors summarize the results of what they believe to be the first
systematic study of children's concepts of their own psychiatric
hospitalization. They found that children 6-12 years old are able to gain
progressive insight into their problems and the roles that therapeutic
staff (doctors and nurses) play in treatment. These findings provide new
information about the child's point of view and cognitive understanding of
psychiatric hospitalization, illness, and treatment. The findings suggest
that preadmission legal hearings addressing the child's understanding of
the nature of psychiatric hospitalization would not be meaningful.Abstract Teaser