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Relational stressors as predictors for repeat aggressive and self-harming incidents in child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient settings

  • Christine Ulke EMAIL logo , Annette M. Klein and Kai von Klitzing
Published/Copyright: February 3, 2014

Abstract

This study examined whether relational stressors such as psychosocial stressors, the therapist’s absence and a change of therapist are associated with repeat aggressive or self-harming incidents in child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient care. The study data were derived from critical incident reports and chart reviews of 107 inpatients. In multinomial regression analysis, patients with repeat aggressive or self-harming incidents were compared with patients with single incidents. Results suggested that a higher number of psychosocial stressors and a change of therapist, but not the therapist’s absence are predictors for repeat aggressive and self-harming incidents. There was a high prevalence of therapist’s absence during both, single and repeat, incidents. Repeat aggressive incidents were common in male children and adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders. Repeat self-harming incidents were common in adolescent females with trauma-related disorders. Patients with repeat aggressive or self-harming incidents had a higher number of abnormal intrafamilial relationships and acute life events than patients with single incidents. Interventions to reduce a change of therapist should in particular target children and adolescents with a higher number of psychosocial stressors and/or a known history of traumatic relational experiences. After a first incident, patients should have a psychosocial assessment to evaluate whether additional relational support is needed.


Corresponding author: Christine Ulke, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Leipzig, Liebigstr. 20a, 04103 Leipzig, Germany, Phone: +49-341-9724-010, Fax: +49-341-9724-019, E-mail:

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the administrative staff for their help with obtaining the data.

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Received: 2013-11-27
Accepted: 2014-1-4
Published Online: 2014-2-3
Published in Print: 2014-11-1

©2014 by De Gruyter

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