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Biomedical subjects

R Framrose

Publications and source records attributed to R Framrose.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

The difficult adolescents who are referred to a psychiatric unit--I. Classification.

The first 206 cases referred to an adolescent psychiatry unit were coded on a clinical inventory. This inventory proved to have acceptable inter-rater and test retest reliability, as well as quite a high degree of validity. Cluster analysis using Yule's similarity coefficient produced a series of near neighbours which, when combined with relevant history details produced four diagnostic groupings which seem to have clinical relevance to referrals to an adolescent psychiatric clinic. The importance of correct diagnosis in this age group is emphasized because of the part it plays in the search for more effective treatments of adolescent disorders.

Adolescent↗

The difficult adolescents who are referred to a psychiatric unit--II. Clinical features and response to treatment.

The development of a new adolescent psychiatric unit for an urban area afforded the opportunity to study the range of cases that were referred. Using a special inventory that was developed and validated for the project distinct groups of youngsters were identified and their family characteristics studied. Of the conduct disordered group, a large proportion proved to be rather solitary and impulsive with a tendency towards outbursts of aggression. These adolescents and their families found least benefit from the family orientated approach of the unit. Of the remaining youngsters about 70 per cent showed symptomatic improvement, a rate which compares well with the findings from other outcome studies.

Adolescent↗

A framework for adolescent disorder: some clinical presentations.

Seven frequently-occurring, more or less sterotyped, adolescent presentations are described to illustrate the relevance of a specific clinical framework for adolescent disorder. This recognizes the maturational background in adolescence, the family involvement in this process and the various factors that can affect it. Disorder is viewed in terms of inappropriate identity choice at this time, a state of maturational deadlock, and can be categorized according to the types and severity of the maladaptive responses. Treatment, capitalizing on the adolescent's state of change and flux, concentrates on more adaptive future identity formation, and can be most rewarding. Orthodox assessment procedures, as used with adult patients, stand the risk of reinforcing a dependent 'psychiatric patient' identity.

Adolescent↗

The first seventy admissions to an adolescent unit in Edinburgh: general characteristics and treatment outcome.

1. The clinical functioning of the Young People's Unit, Edinburgh is described. This involves a relatively permissive, democratic "milieu". Psychotherapeutic efforts are devoted to the resolution of family psychopathology and the achievement of maturational progress for the adolescent. 2. Data on the first seventy admittions to the Unit were examined. Two-thirds of the patients were diagnosed "developmental crisis"; the majority of these also had a personality disorder. 3. Assessments of family functioning showed high levels of disturbance and psychiatric morbidity among the parents. The adolescents had mutually good, positive relationships with their opposite-sexed parents, but markedly negative ones with the same-sexed parents. This was not in accordance with the usual findings in "normal" families. Delinquent and impulsive patients showed uniformly negative family attitudes. 4. A simple estimation of treatment outcome at discharge gave results comparable to those of other units, with 70 per cent of patients rated as improved. Neurotic and psychotic patients had a relatively better outcome. Tension-discharge personality disorder and a history of very disruptive or antisocial behaviour were associated with poor outcome. 5. The poor response of very disturbed, impulsive adolescents to this type of therapeutic regime is discussed. These individuals do not appear to have sufficient personality resources and organization to benefit from this type of treatment. Emerging from this is a suggestion for an increased provision of specialized units offering containment and intensive care to the very disturbed adolescent.

Adolescent↗