The pediatric medical-psychiatric unit in a psychiatric hospital

Interest in the development of pediatric medical-psychiatric units continues to grow, driven by clinical, financial, and interdisciplinary considerations. While virtually all of the pediatric medical-psychiatric units reported in the literature to date have arisen in the pediatric setting, there are considerations that may encourage the development of such programs in the psychiatric setting. The authors report on the development and characteristics of a pediatric medical-psychiatric specialty inpatient unit developed in a psychiatric hospital. Advantages and disadvantages of the psychiatric hospital setting are considered in light of cumulative experience.