The growth and development of children is a long and fast changing process. It is almost always a joyful process for parents, but at times endured with great doubts and troubles. Over this period, children rely heavily on the appropriate environment and support from their families.

Our hospital has an outpatient clinic exclusively for children and adolescents. In view of the emotional, developmental, behavioral and learning issues encountered by our young during this period, we provide timely assessment and treatment to help parents understand and deal with the difficulties their offspring face growing up. Because such assessments and treatments often require longer outpatient visits, an appointment system is usually required.

It is important to establish a rapport with the child. The doctor will interview the family and the child at the clinic, and after that, the doctor will interview the child alone. When parents are talking about their children's problems, we suggest that the problems be discussed as openly as possible in their children’s presence. Sometimes parents are worried about their children's mood swings and felt a need to discuss the problems with doctors in private. We suggest that parents give sincere explanations to their children in advance because the more tense the relationship between the child and the parents, the more suspicious or fearful he/she will be about the private conversation between the parents and the doctor. This may push the children further away from medical attention and desired follow-up.

Usually our procedures are as follows:

1. Clarify the main problems.
2. Collect clinical data.
3. Conduct individual or family talks and, if necessary, neuropsychiatric examinations.
4. Arrange checks or evaluations that are clinically indicated.
5. Analyze data and make preliminary diagnosis.
6. Devise a treatment plan.
7. Perform treatment, as well as follow-up and reassessment of the outcome.

Outpatient clinic for children and adolescents

• Childhood and adolescence are periods of rapid and unstable physical and mental development. The development of children and adolescents is very different from that of adults in terms of behavioral or emotional issues or individual characteristics. Professional guidance and treatment are needed for children and adolescents who have experienced major changes, such as physical or emotional abuse, parents' divorce, and various serious accident. Since October 1998, our hospital has set up a "Child and Adolescent Psychology(?) Clinic," with a view to providing more reliable services for developing children and their families.
• Target: Children and adolescents under 16 years of age.
• Service content:
  1. Emotional turmoil: anxiety, excessive fear, school refusal, interpersonal difficulties, etc.
  2. Behavioral problems: destructive behavior, vandalism, self-injury, aggression, theft, etc.
  3. Delayed development: intellectual disability, autism, etc.
  4. Learning difficulties: inattention, hyperactivity or other learning disabilities.
  5. Psychiatric assessment: clinical depression, panic disorder, anorexia, bulimia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc.
  6. Psychiatric assessment: loss of reality, delusions, hallucinations, bizarre behavior, irritability, emotional outbursts leading to uncontrollability, etc.
  7. Clinical evaluation: disease diagnosis, family evaluation, psychological test and evaluation, and evaluation of social resources.
  8. All kinds of therapy: pharmacotherapy(medicine), individual psychotherapy, game therapy, family therapy.
  9. Guidance and consultation: providing consultation and notes from relevant institutions to meet the needs of social workers and caregivers; guidance for parental education; and suggestions for school counseling.

Family therapy clinic

• Family is the main living environment for children or adolescents. Many clinical cases can be dealt with more quickly and effectively through family talks. Of course, in general outpatient treatment, we also discuss with parents. But in the context of family therapy, we encourage more family members to be involved and look for the possibility of change in the family system.
• The patient is referred to a social worker or psychologist after evaluation by the psychiatrist.