Patient Care Unit Information: 1 SW

1 SW is a behavioral health research unit of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The unit’s focus is the care of children and adolescents with childhood onset schizophrenia (COS) and mood disorders.

1 SW is an 8-bed unit with a State-accredited school. Children on the unit can enjoy a variety of recreational opportunities, including activities in the gym and playroom, "caring canine visits," art therapy, music therapy, and storytelling. The Nutrition Department serves special diets and meals. Like a family, staff and children eat together at the unit’s dining room table.

Nursing care

Each patient has a primary nursing team. This team is responsible for individualized patient care and for coordinating that care with a team of health care professionals and families.

Unit guidelines

1 SW has rules and guidelines to protect the safety, privacy and confidentiality of all patients. Children and their families are encouraged to talk on the phone daily. Parents can stay at the Children’s Inn and visit their children daily, during regular visiting hours. Children can also bring some of their favorite items such as a stuffed animal, pillow and blanket, family pictures, or a clock-radio. Items to avoid bringing include mirrors, glass, or anything considered sharp.

Our research

Doctors and psychiatrists in the community send information about their patients to the doctors at NIMH-Child Psychiatry. If the child meets the criteria for the disorders, they can be interviewed and admitted to the research program.

Because accurate diagnosis is extremely useful to parents and the affected children, our research focuses on the whole child. Medications play an important role in controlling the symptoms of these disorders. All symptoms are considered so that a medication trial can be devised. Children may stay on our unit from 3 weeks to 6 months.

Parents are involved in all aspects of research, from signing for consent and assent to patient discharge.

Teaching is a big part of our work with patients and families. Our staff members feel that patients and families should be well informed about the tests and procedures related to research.