Mental Impact and Gender Differences in Adolescents in Stationary Welfare Service

Compared to the general population children and adolescents in stationary youth welfare service show higher prevalence of mental disorders. Object of the recent study was to record mental impact and gender differences in adolescents living in accommodations of the welfare youth service using a dimensional approach. The survey was realized in all stationary welfare services in the area of Bad Doberan/Germany. 42 adolescents answered Achenbach's Youth Self Report and their teachers the Teachers Report Form for mental problems. In Self Report 57% of the adolescents showed clinical relevant disorders. Girls were significantly more impaired in internal characteristics than boys. The registration of mental disorders by dimensional method confirms the high prevalence. But an adequate local psychiatric-psychotherapeutic care and therapy is rare. The results argue for a stronger integration of children and adolescent psychiatry and youth welfare system.