Children (aged 8-13) admitted to an in-patient unit, were interviewed shortly
after admission and before discharge, to explore how they made sense of the
admission. The interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed to identify
emergent themes. The findings suggest that children understood the reason for
admission to relate to gaining control over 'out of control' emotions
and behaviours that they perceived, in many cases, as leading to rejection by
family, school or peers. At admission, the children expected to be passive
recipients of 'help', with staff 'taking charge'. They
valued the experience of containment provided by the unit. By the end of
admission, children's conceptualization of their role in 'getting
better' had shifted to incorporate an increasing sense of their own agency.
Being taught strategies for anger-or anxiety-management was particularly valued
by the children as helping them meet their objectives. However, despite the
relevance of the children's ideas for treatment goals, children perceived
themselves as excluded from goal setting. Ways in which services can enhance
children's participation in decisions about treatment are discussed.
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outcome in a child psychiatry unit
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in the experience of the child.
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health services.
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