Residential treatment for disturbed children: its place in the '80s.

The value and place of residential treatment for disturbed children and adolescents have been increasingly questioned in recent years. Possible reasons for this are examined. The place of residential treatment, and its value as a specialized form of therapy, are discussed. The treatment of disturbed young people in residential settings should only be undertaken as part of a wider therapeutic plan. The need for placement away from home, for the protection of the community or for other reasons not directly concerned with the child's treatment, must be distinguished from the need for residential treatment. The rationale and goals of treatment must always be defined in advance, and the needs of the system to which the child belongs must be considered along with those of the presenting patient.