On the image of child psychiatry amongst the people and the parents concerned.

In questionning altogether 313 parents who had made use of the help of child psychiatry, as well as parents who had taken their child to a children's hospital, or persons who lived in the vicinity of a child psychiatric clinic, clear prejudices against children who had undergone child psychiatric treatment, their families and facilities were found. The child and adolescent psychiatrist's job description and his sphere of responsibility were indefinite and not well-defined in comparison with other professional groups (e.g. psychologists). His advice was often only sought for after other facilities, above all paediatricians and educational advice centres, had been consulted without the desired success. Parents who had made use of a child psychiatrist's help were less inclined to prejudices and were better informed than the other two groups mentioned above. Even today however, patients who have undergone psychiatric treatment and their families still have to reckon on reservations in their social surroundings especially from other children.