Events precipitating psychiatric hospitalization of children.

The precipitating events that preceded the admission of 50 children to an inpatient psychiatric program were studies and defined. These events, while varying in their particulars, could be grouped into three broad conceptual categories: 1) emotionally related events; 2) severe-conduct events; and 3) school-related events. The emotionally related events were the most numerous: suicide threats or attempts preceded the admission of 22% of the sample. The study findings are discussed in terms of their developmental, treatment, and preventive significance and are compared with the findings obtained from a previous study with adolescent patients.