Child Guidance clinic in a psychiatric hospital

Summary

The reports presents a review of the pattern of cases, diagnostic classification and socio-demographic variables of the cases who attend a child guidance clinic in the department of psychiatry of a large medical college. Various services offered by the clinic have been reviewed. During the year 1972–1973, 14.6% of cases reporting to the out-door were registered in the child guidance department as they were up to 12 years of age. Out of this 8.4% were put under ‘domiciliary service’. 6.5% were admitted, and the remaining were treated in the out-door department. T Treatment method included mainly drugs and psychotherapy. The vast majority of these cases were mentally retarded. 53.2% of the cases were admitted for investigation purposes. A majority of the out-patient clinic sample consisted of children above 6 years of age; were male children coming from urban areas; illiterates, and belonged to the lower economic strata.