Summary and Conclusions
Treatment of the adolescent patient requires heavily-staffed units with personnel prepared to meet the developmental problems and special needs of the disturbed adolescent, and establish firm limits on his tendency to “act out” his problems. The therapist must be ready to help his adolescent patient whenever he requires attention, even to the extent of seeing him several times a day when necessary. All personnel must have genuine respect for the adolescent as a person. The therapist especially must have worked through his own adolescent conflicts satisfactorily and should have a mature super-ego. He should be willing and able to help, but must be able to “let go” without undue anxiety when his patient suddenly no longer needs him. Unless such individualized treatment is provided, the hospital will function primarily as an expensive reform school or jail for the disturbed adolescent.
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From Galesburg State Research Hospital, Galesburg, Ill. Read at the 115th Annual Meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Philadelphia, April 26, 1959.
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Edwalds, R., Dimitri, K. Treatment of the adolescent patient in a state hospital. Psych Quar 33, 615–622 (1959). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01562034
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01562034