Participation in the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Do Personality Traits Affect the Difference Between the Desire and Experience of Participation?

Objective: Participation and codetermination are important rights of children and adolescents. The present study examined discrepancies between the desire and experience of participation, their relationship with treatment satisfaction, and which patient-related variables are associated with the reported discrepancies. Method: Forty adolescents from the inpatient unit or the day clinic of the university clinic of Ruppin-Brandenburg answered a questionnaire concerning their desire for and experience of participation. Additionally, we assessed sociodemographic data and personality traits. Results: Patients experienced less participation than desired. The highest discrepancy was found in items concerning communication with family and friends. Two personality traits had significant positive effects on the discrepancy of desired and experienced participation: ,,suspicious schizotypical" and ,,loyal-dependent." Conclusion: Minors want more participation than they actually experience. We need flexible concepts, especially concerning communication with family and friends, to reduce the discrepancy between the desire and the experience of participation. Giving patients the possibility to participate and encouraging them to do so should be emphasized, especially with patients with the personality traits ,,suspicious-schizotypical" and ,,loyal-dependent."