[Adolescent psychiatry addiction centers--necessary and effective? Treatment follow-up of adolescent psychiatric treatment and rehabilitation for adolescent drug addicts].

194 patients who were referred to adolescent psychiatry inpatient unit (98) and a drug rehabilitation unit (96) in 1999 and 2000 were compared as to sociodemographic variables, comorbidity and course of treatment. Female patients were overrepresented in the psychiatry unit, whereas in the rehab unit more immigrants or referrals from juvenile detention were treated. Most psychiatry patients were comorbid with at least one, a quarter with more than one additional diagnosis and had less polysubstance dependence (69%). Due to a drop out rate of 71% in the patients with a criminal justice status, rehab patients did not complete treatment as often as psychiatry patients. Three years after their first dismissal and, in some cases, after several new admissions, 60% of rehabilitation clients completed the program. Both settings have their own right in the system because comorbid patients need highly individualized therapy, and rehab patients need programs able to address school-based, family-related, and gender-specific issues.