ABSTRACT
Treatment commences from the moment of referral to the psychiatric clinic. The confrontation of the teenager with the fact that there is sufficient concern about his problems and/or behaviour to suggest referral to a specialist clinic initiates a chain of reaction. His first emotion may be one of relief, that at last help may be forthcoming; of anxiety, that he is considered to be going out of his mind (because the stigma of psychiatric referral persists); or of anger and hostility.
