Characteristics of children admitted to a state mental hospital.

In looking at demographic, social, psychiatric, and medical characteristics of 125 mentally disturbed children admitted to a state mental hospital in southern California in 1971 and in 1976, the authors found evidence of family instability and disposition to violent behavior to be the most notable features of the group; many of the children did not reveal evidence of thought disorder while in the institution. Children with conduct disorders represented the majority of admission diagnoses. The children's mean age at admission was 13.2 years; most of them had several previous residential placements, and 80 per cent were Anglo-Caucasian. The authors believe that the ability to manage children predisposed to violent outbursts is the key issue involved in returning these children to community life.