The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term of children who had bee
n inpatients in a child psychiatry unit. Fifty children, who were consecuti
ve admissions to a Dublin inpatient child psychiatry unit between November
1978 and July 1980; were followed up 16 years later. We obtained some direc
t information on 33 subjects; of these, 4 subjects had died and 11 subjects
(33%) were living abroad. A poor outcome as defined by imprisonment, adult
psychiatric disorder or unemployment was in 18 of the 24 subjects (79%) on
whom this information available. We conclude that support and increased av
ailability of services post discharge are needed.