A clinical study of competency in child psychiatric inpatients

A 17-item competency questionnaire, modified for use with children and adol escents (CQ-ChP), was used to evaluate competency to consent to hospitaliza tion and treatment in child psychiatric inpatients. A total of 25 consecuti ve English-speaking psychiatric child inpatient admissions were studied. De mographic data were statistically analyzed using chi(2), and there were no significant statistical differences between the competent and incompetent g roups (using CQ-ChP scores and cut-offs). The various demographic/clinical variables and scores on the questionnaire were also statistically evaluated using chi(2). The only statistical significance was the association betwee n reading level and competency with a value of p <.05. Therefore, by achiev ing a reading level at the fifth-grade standard, subjects were found to be competent as measured by the CQ-ChP.