Participation and Information in Child and Youth Psychiatry

Abstract

Participation and Information in Child and Youth Psychiatry Participation is part of children's legal rights - even in psychiatric treatment. However, former studies show that most children have barely been informed about their treatment and that their opinion has not been taken into account in any decision making process. Nowadays there is an increased awareness about involving children in the decision making process and in informing them about treatment. This subject has also gathered more importance through legal actions changed in favor of the children. We have investigated to what extend children in in-patient treatment in the child and adolescent psychiatry feel informed about and included in decisions concerning their treatment. N = 114 children of the age between 12-18 years have been asked via a written survey. Results show that more than half of the young people feel that they do have the possibility to take part in decision-making. Only a third of the participants felt sufficiently informed before and during their hospital stay.