[Cooperation between office-based medical practices and hospitals in the treatment of schizophrenia in children and adolescents].

Starting from needs assessment and actual situation of child and adolescent psychiatric care the following article describes priorities, gateways, interfaces and problems related to the co-operation of parents, children and adolescents with office- and hospital-based physicians and institutions in the early diagnosis, hospital admission, in-patient treatment and outpatient follow-up of children and adolescents with psychotic disorders. Data from a sample of 100 children and adolescents with psychotic disorders, who have been treated in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rheinische Kliniken Duesseldorf, are provided to illustrate the possibility of and need for co-operation between office-based medical practices and hospitals. Finally co-operative activities will be specified between: 1. nation-wide quality circles and regional working groups, 2. the schizophrenia research network, 3. the professional bodies and 4. public relations as important opportunities for the improvement of psychoeducation, early diagnosis and treatment.