Inpatient Behavior Therapy for Children and Adolescents. - book reviews

Adolescence, Winter, 1994

This text provides a practical approach to the functions of behavior therapists in inpatient psychiatric services for children and youth. Part 1 consists of a historical overview, an analysis of staff training and consultation, and a description of the medical aspects of care. Parts 2 and 3 deal with the treatment of children and adolescents, respectively.

Each of the nine chapters in these sections includes a precise clinical description of the disorder, a discussion of how to evaluate it behaviorally and psychiatrically, presentation of behavioral treatments and their frequent integration with psychopharmacologic approaches, case illustrations, and a discussion of specific problem areas. Finally, Part 4 considers the topics of child abuse, academic and educational aspects of inpatient treatment, and the role of social and family work, all of which cut across the disorders covered in the previous two parts.