Depressive disorders. Set value in the children and youth psychiatric practice

If depression is the presenting complaint evaluation for suicidal tendency is predominant in the acute phase. In a long-term perspective psychotherapy, medication and supportive treatment elements have to be coordinated. In a model research project nine private psychiatric practices for child and adolescent psychiatry took part in a research project on the quality of outpatient care. The basic documentation of the physicians, questionnaires from children and parents and telephone interviews after 3 and 12 months were the data base for an evaluation of the treatment. Included were 918 children, the majority of which were boys in early school age. The four diagnoses of hyperkinetic syndrome, emotional disorder, adjustment disorder and conduct disorder comprised 75% of the total sample. In 11% of the children the diagnosis was depression. At a symptom level about half of all children had an impaired mood. Satisfaction of patients and parents with treatment by private practices was high. The personal approach in the practice was highly valued from the side of the families and seen as supportive, when asked by external evaluators. Within 1 year the psychopathology improved very little but in contrast the quality of life of the families improved considerably.