Individual characteristics and peer relations of psychiatrically hospitalized aggressive youths: Implications for treatment

Objective: This study identified individual and peer-relations problems of inpatient youths who are aggressive, and whether youths who are aggressive in two settings have greater treatment needs than youths who are aggressive in one setting only. Method: 85 youths aged 10 to 16 years who were consec utively admitted to a psychiatric facility served as participants. Based on ratings by parents and hospital staff, youths were identified as aggressiv e in the community only, aggressive in the hospital only, aggressive in bot h settings, or nonaggressive. Dependent measures consisted of youth self-re ports and ratings by parents and hospital staff. Results: Youths who demons trate aggressive behavior in two settings have more nonaggressive behavior problems, more disturbed peer relations, and more hostile thinking than do nonaggressive youths, and some youths, although they may behave aggressivel y during hospitalization, have similar treatment needs as nonaggressive you ths. Conclusions: Mental health professionals who work with youths in psych iatric settings need to develop treatment plans that directly address the m ore severe externalizing problems, hostile thinking, and peer problems of a ggressive youths over and above that of nonaggressive youths, and should be aware that youths who behave aggressively during hospitalization may not h ave problems more severe than those of nonaggressive youths.