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Measuring Interpersonal Dependency In Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients, Susan D. Schaffer

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The successful inpatient treatment of emotionally troubled adolescents must facilitate their achievement of developmentally appropriate independence while minimizing the maladaptive dependency that can be fostered by the hospitalization experience. Levels of interpersonal dependency were measured in seven adolescent psychiatric inpatients over a ninety day period. The Interpersonal Dependency Inventory by Hirschfeld, Klerman, Gough, Barrett, Korchin, & Chodoff was utilized. The individual therapist of each participant independently assessed the participant's response to hospitalization at forty-five and ninety days using a five point Leikert type scale. The study demonstrated no significant changes in dependency levels at forty-five and ninety days. The therapist's …