Topic: Structuring of inpatient behavioral programming in child-adolescent psychiatric, residential treatment, and juvenile justice settings. Purpose: To review the underlying theory underpinning current practices and recommend remedies to the uncovered problems. Sources: A review of the literature from 1965 to 2001 from selected nursing and medical psychiatric and mental health publications. Conclusions: Intensive professional and staff education and greater precision in communication about patients' behaviors are needed in many settings. There is also a need to move away from generic treatment approaches and return to individual treatment planning based on individual assessments and the unique needs of an increasingly volatile and complex in-patient population.