Teru L. Morton

The psychiatric inpatient treatment of children and youth in general hospitals

National attention has recently focused on the mental health needs and services of children and youth. The lack of outpatient services and their coordination has been noted, as well as the consequent press towards inpatient care. We describe the inpatient treatment of children and adolescents (ages 0-18) in short-term, non-Federal general hospitals in 1980. Nationally, 128,300 children were treated for mental disorders in general hospitals at an estimated cost of over

Family-Based Interventions for Crime and Delinquency

1.5 billion. Compared to adults, children were more likely to be treated in scatter beds (vs. specialty units); have a diagnosis of mental disorder (vs. alcohol/drug disorder); stay much longer; and pay with commercial insurance. Previous work focusing on psychiatric units of general hospitals identified less than 40% of the total episodes, a figure very similar to that for adults. The majority of psychiatric inpatient episodes for children and youth in the United States takes place in short-term general hospitals. Community psychologists need to be aware of national trends in inpatient care and be involved in the development and promulgation of alternative models of care.

Psychology and public policy in the "health care revolution."

Historically, the family has been the target for early detection, treatment, and prevention of delinquency and crime. Values, standards for behavior, and skills of social influence and achievement are learned in the family, and evidence is now mounting that criminal/delinquent behavior has partial roots there (Coull, Geismar, & Waff, 1982; Druckman, 1979; Emshoff & Blakely, 1983; Fischer, 1983; Parsons & Alexander, 1973; Rutter & Giller, 1984; Stuart, 1971).