The care of mentally retarded children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders in hospitals for child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy in Germany - Results of a questionnaire survey

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of and standards of treatment for young mentally retarded patients in inpatient units and ambulant settings. Methods: Mail questionnaire survey of all German hospitals for child and adolescent psychiatry (N = 136); 68 closed-ended questions; 54.4% respondents. Results: The average prevalence was 6% of in- and outpatients. Specialised inpatient units for the mentally retarded are available at 8% of the hospitals; 5% only have outpatient services, i.e., most of the clients are managed within mainstream units. The standards of assessment and treatment are as usual. Pharmacotherapy is not more frequent. The quality of services is more or less sufficient. Of the responders, 85% demand specialised in- and outpatient psychiatric services for the mentally retarded in every federal state. Conclusions: The overall deficit of psychiatric services for mentally retarded children and adolescents in Germany is confirmed. New specialised in- and outpatient services must be created in every federal state. The quality of assessment and treatment seems to be sufficient to establish accurate diagnoses and multidisciplinary therapeutic approaches.