Table 3:

Key Thematic Areas and Sample Statements from Adolescents’ Descriptions of their Hospital Experiences while Awaiting Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment

Supportive Clinical Interactions	“I feel like the people who are here with me for hours on end, because they understand. Even witnessing the way I interact with my parents and just listening, they understand my frustrations and everything because I am talking to them the entire day.”
Information Needs	“What’s taking so long to find me a bed? Why am I still here?”
	“Well, at my [previous hospitalization], they really sugar coated it. I really wish that they would have told me what other types of kids were going to be there. I really wish they would have told me what the place was like, because when I got there it was definitely much, much worse than they made it out to be.”
Repetitive Inquiries	“I guess it was a little bit overwhelming, especially when multiple people would come in the room at once. Like when there was three different people in there and it was kind of just a little nerve wracking.”
	“Everybody was asking me questions about… how I got here and stuff like that. It made me feel overwhelmed and bad about myself.”
Safety	“I feel better. Because at first, I was scared, but now, I’m not scared.”
Prior Hospital Experiences	“I don’t know if I’m gonna get needles or not. I am very scared of needles.”
Activities and Boredom	“I am kind of bored and just like a lot of sitting and just like I know I can’t really get up and then just walk around. And I started thinking that I don’t want to be here then I just get upset and stuff.”
Physical Comfort	“The blankets are like the thinnest. And I’ve gotten used to the temperature, but it’s really cold in here.”
Emotions	“I’ve been less stressed, which means no suicidal thoughts.”