[Multi-disciplinary approach to adolescents with problems. The Cholet experience].

The authors report their experience of management of 12-18 years adolescents in the year 1987 using a multidisciplinary approach. Eighty adolescents were hospitalized in the adolescent ward (5 beds) of a pediatric unit (38 beds; 1,691 admissions). Follow-up was carried out in a specialized out-patient clinic (SOPC) (660 patients) in a common-place apartment lent by the town-hall. A day hospital (12 beds) was reserved for those patients presenting with more important psychological problems. The causes for hospitalization (64% of females, 36% of males) consisted for 1/3 of somatic problems and for 2/3 of psychological problems, of which 40% were suicide attempts. 70% of these adolescents were met again in the SOPC (36% by a pediatrician, 29% by the pedopsychiatric team). Such a structure, open towards the outside, working in a multifocal and multidisciplinary way but with the same care team allows, in spite of some difficulties and doubts, responding to the local needs and facing a more global management and a better follow-up of adolescents with difficulties.