A comparison of adolescent girls in Dutch psychiatric hospitals and in juvenile justice institutions

A recent study of VUmc Amsterdam on background and psychopathology of
adolescent females in Juvenile Justice Institutions (JJI) showed these girls to
have major problems, not rarely with a psychiatric nature.
This raised the question to what extend these girls differ with girls in
psychiatric hospitals.

The aim of this study is twofold. First, since data on psychiatric disorders in
inpatient girls is missing, to study the social demographic characteristics,
history of mental health assistance, family situation and nature and
seriousness of psychosocial and psychiatric problems of adolescent females in
psychiatric hospitals.
Second, since comparative research is sparse, to compare these characteristics
and prevalences of psychiatric disorders with those of adolescent girls in
juvenile justice institutions.

With the use of self-report questionnaires, file study and an psychiatric
interview, the social demographic characteristics, history of mental health
assistance, family situation and nature and seriousness of psychosocial and
psychiatric problems of adolescent females will be assesed

Assesment with both the self-report questionnaires as the interview take
approx. 60 minutes. The burden will be minimized by avoiding assesment during
schooltime.