A Psychiatric Study of a Pediatric Intensive Therapy Unit

Abstract

A pediatric intensive therapy unit (ITU) was studied psychiatrically for six months. The emotional responses of children in an ITU are posi tive; they react with much less fear, regression, anger, depression and inappropriate behavior than expected. Parents are uniform in their enthusiasm and praise for the excellence of care, the unlimited visiting and the emotional support given by the staff. The nurses are the key to the positive functioning of ITU, with good quality of care the most important emotional supportive factor. A psychiatric consultant helps the staff maintain proficiency by helping them deal with intrastaff and patient conflicts when these arise. Pediatric ITU is a superior means of delivering physical and emotional care to very sick children.

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