FINDINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A RESIDENTIAL OR SEMI-RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Aim. The particularity of the adolescent with medium- severe psychopathology and the extreme lack of placements different from hospitals (e.g. residential and semi-residential) often hamper the early intervention of the therapeutic treatment. From our experience from the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents at the Childhood and Adolescence Neuropsychiatry Unit of the Public Health Services (Azienda ULSS 16) in Padua, Italy, a retrospective analysis was carried out to identify which factors could be the best indicators for a residential or a semi-residential placement.

Sample and methodology. The sample consists of 102 adolescents referred to the daily Semi-residential Service for Adolescents (77 males and 25 females, aged between 12 and 18 years). It was later on divided into two groups: one group stayed in the Semi-residential Service and the second group went into a residential child care institution. All the patients were assessed using the Youth Self report (YSR 11-18) and the Global Assessment Functioning Scale (GAF) when admitted to the Service, and 6 months further on. For each patient the following data were collected: personal and familiar details, schooling, diagnosis, therapeutic objectives, collaboration of the adolescent and his/her family to the treatment and type of intervention. All the data were analysed and compared to find out which could indicate the best early placement for the patient (Semi-residential or residential).
Results and conclusions. From this study, it emerges that the residential child care institution is more indicated for the adolescents with: age below 14 years old, monoparental family, externalizing problems (delinquent and aggressive behaviour, conduct or personality disorders), a poor therapeutical compliance (in particular during the first 6 months in the Semi-residential Service) and a lack of parental collaboration.