ABSTRACT
The evaluation process and the treatment process of an adolescent in an inpatient setting occur simultaneously from admission to discharge. Most clinicians like to divide the inpatient stay into an evaluation period and a treatment period. Depending upon the setting, the assessment period may consist of the first several days, or even weeks, of the inpatient stay. Often, the very admission of the adolescent to an inpatient setting may be therapeutic as the disturbed adolescent is surrounded by hospital staff who provide both support and supervision. This support may be in the form of empathetic listening and clearly defined and enforced rules, regulation, and limits, with the possible use of psychopharmacological intervention to treat specific disorders such as depression or to control dangerous behaviors. In addition, the treatment team actively plans for discharge throughout the inpatient stay. One can divide inpatient stay into the following steps or stages: preadmission/intake; admission proper; diagnostic procedures and conference; treatment intervention; and discharge.
