[Clinical characteristics of children and adolescent hospitalized in a university psychiatric clinic].

BACKGROUND Five percent of children and adolescents consults in mental health services in one year. Approximately one every ten children has a mental health problem. AIM To assess clinical and demographic factors of children and adolescents hospitalized by psychiatric cause in a university psychiatric clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS Review of medical records of 167 subjects aged 9 to 17 years, 97 women, admitted to a Psychiatric Service in the period 2001-2004. The International Classification of Primary Care (ICPC) manual of the World Organization of National Colleges, Academies and Academic Associations of General Practitioners/Family Physicians (WONCA) was used to classify admission complaints and symptoms and DSMIV to classify psychiatric disorders. RESULTS Mean hospital stay was 11+8 days. The main admission causes were suicidal attempts and psychomotor agitation/impulsive behavior in 54% and 26% of cases, respectively. The main psychiatric diagnoses were depressive disorder, suicide attempt and bipolar disorder. In 69% of patients, the personality diagnosis was deferred. Only 25% of families were considered functional. CONCLUSIONS Affective disorders and suicidal behavior are the main psychiatric diagnoses at discharge in children and adolescents admitted to a psychiatric impatient service.