[Adolescent health center. I. Justification of a bipolar approach and analysis of consultation motives].

This paper and the next, report on the experience of adolescent care in an ambulatory and multidisciplinary center based on a bifocal medical and psychological strategy. Two thirds of the adolescents are referred by a physician. The most common reasons are one or several somatic symptoms with a background of emotional complaints. Those reasons are consistent with the general adolescent health problems as revealed by studies of large national samples. It appears critical to read the adolescent complaint in a psychological register together with the somatic aspects. Initially, the adolescents are however rarely open for awareness of their psychological needs. This justifies care in a center where the initial medical management may secondarily result in psychological management.