ABSTRACT
This study tested the efficacy of several interventions for reducing the rate of "no shows" to first appointments to a child psychiatry outpatient clinic. After their initial telephone contact with the clinic, patients were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: (1) a reminder telephone call, (2) an orientation letter, (3) both a telephone prompt and an orientation letter, and (4) no contact. Results indicated that any contact was significantly more likely to reduce the "no show" rate than no contact. Those who "no showed" or cancelled had to wait significantly longer for an appointment than did those who showed. Parent's primary reason for not making their appointments was that the scheduled time interfered with their work schedule. Implications of these results for improving clinic services are discussed.
Subject(s)
Appointments and Schedules , Family Therapy , Patient Dropouts/psychology , Referral and Consultation , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Little attention has been given in the professional literature to suicide among homosexual adolescents. Sixty-six adolescent psychiatrists responded to a questionnaire on the subject. Results from this survey suggest that many experts are not working with homosexual adolescents. On the other hand, the majority of those treating them considered them to be at higher risk for suicide and agreed that their suicidal gestures were more severe than those of other adolescents.
Subject(s)
Homosexuality , Suicide/psychology , Adolescent , Humans , Risk , Suicide, Attempted/psychologyABSTRACT
In 1899 the age of sexual consent in some American jurisdictions was 9 years. It has ranged from 7 to 21 years and at present the range is from 11 to 18 years. The age selected seems to be an arbitrary matter, the product of legislative compromise. The age of sexual consent should not be so early that little protection is provided for a child. Conversely, it should not be so late that a man can be held for statutory rape when the "victim" is fully capable of informed consent and readily acquiesced to a proposal or even invited a sexual relationship.
Subject(s)
Legislation as Topic , Sexual Behavior , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Decision Making , Female , Humans , Male , Rape/legislation & jurisprudence , United StatesABSTRACT
Information obtained from parent questionnaires suggests that the seemingly benign phenomenon of babysitting is associated with a variety of problems that may endanger the well-being of children. Many parents do not adequately screen babysitters and do not clearly articulate their expectations to them. The pediatrician is in an ideal position to provide parents with necessary guidance to prevent problems from arising. Data from this study provide suggestions for the pediatrician to share with parents on issues involving the use of babysitters.
Subject(s)
Child Care , Mothers/psychology , Pediatrics , Physician's Role , Role , Adolescent , Adult , Attitude , Female , Humans , Maternal Behavior , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Despite its popularity in the lay media, alleged possession of children by demons has received scant attention in the scientific literature. Five cases are presented. This phenomenon probably represents a variant of folie à deux. A religious consultant may advantageously be included as a member of the treatment team.
Subject(s)
Delusions/therapy , Occultism , Religion and Psychology , Adolescent , Anxiety/psychology , Child , Conversion Disorder/psychology , Delusions/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Schizophrenia, Childhood/psychology , Schizophrenia, Paranoid/psychology , Shared Paranoid Disorder/psychologySubject(s)
Iatrogenic Disease , Renal Dialysis , Child , Chlorates/poisoning , Female , Humans , Nephrectomy , Parent-Child Relations , Pica/psychology , Potassium/poisoning , Pyelonephritis/therapyABSTRACT
This paper deals with the sexual experiences an adolescent might have as a result of babysitting. The impact of babysitters in our culture has been ignored in the literature, and yet we find it practiced widely by teenagers in the United States. Parents and society in general have few guidelines in sitter selection and in recognizing the potential impact of the sitter on their children.
