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Parental mental health problems can impact child mental health, as well as treatment of child mental health problems. The aim of this study was to investigate self-reported mental health problems in parents of children referred to outpatient child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and to compare child mental health problems, family variables, treatment received and parent participation in treatment planning between parents above and below the cut-off for elevated mental health problems. The sample included N = 111 parents of N = 98 children. Parental reports covering their own and their children’s mental health problems, family functioning, adult relationship satisfaction, and previous treatment for mental health problems were collected at the time of the child’s intake appointment. Questions concerning contact with CAMHS were completed one year later. At the time of the intake appointment, 44% of the children had a parent who reported elevated mental health problems. In these families, children reportedly had significantly more mental health problems and problematic family functioning was more common than in families where parent mental health problems were not elevated. Parents with elevated mental health problems received group-based parent support/education to a greater extent during the first year of contact with CAHMS and reported less participation in treatment planning compared to parents without elevated mental health problems. To conclude, findings indicate that co-occurring mental health problems are common in parents when their child is referred to CAMHS, and in these families, it is reported that children have more symptoms, and more families experience problematic functioning. These factors merit consideration in assessment and treatment planning, indicating increased treatment needs in this group of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Worldwide, one in five children and adolescents suffer from mental health disorders, while facing limited opportunities for treatment and recovery. Growing up, they face multiple challenges that might contribute to the development of mental disorders. Uganda is a developing country with a history of prolonged civil and regional wars associated with child soldiers, large numbers of refugees and internally displaced people due to natural disasters and unrests, and a large infectious disease burden mainly due to acute respiratory tract infections, malaria and HIV/AIDS. Objective: This paper aims to examine the current status of child and adolescent mental health services in Uganda. Methodology: A scoping review approach was used to select studies on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Uganda. A search of MEDLINE, Wiley and PubMed databases was conducted using eligibility criteria. The papers were summarized in tables and then synthesized using the Frameworks for monitoring health systems performance designed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This was done according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and M-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Results: Twelve studies were identified; five of them used qualitative methods and focused mostly on the current limitations and strengths of CAMHS in Uganda, while six quantitative studies investigated the effects of new interventions. One study used a mixed-methods approach. In summary, the papers outlined a need for collaboration with the primary health sector and traditional healers to ensure additional human resources, as well as the need to focus on groups such as orphans, HIV/AIDS-affected youth, former child soldiers and refugees. Conclusion: Relatively few studies have been conducted on CAMHS in Uganda, and most of those that exist are part of larger studies involving multiple countries. CAMHS in Uganda require improvement and needs to focus especially on vulnerable groups such as orphans, HIV/AIDS-affected youth and former child soldiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health disorders often develop during childhood and adolescence, causing long term and debilitating impacts at individual and societal levels. Local, early, and precise assessment and evidence-based treatment are key to achieve positive mental health outcomes and to avoid long-term care. Technological advancements, such as computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSSs), can support practitioners in providing evidence-based care. While previous studies have found CDSS implementation helps to improve aspects of medical care, evidence is limited on its use for child and adolescent mental health care. This paper presents challenges and opportunities for adapting CDSS design and implementation to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). To highlight the complexity of incorporating CDSSs within local CAMHS, we have structured the paper around four components to consider before designing and implementing the CDSS: supporting collaboration among multiple stakeholders involved in care; optimally using health data; accounting for comorbidities; and addressing the temporality of patient care. The proposed perspective is presented within the context of the child and adolescent mental health services in Norway and an ongoing Norwegian innovative research project, the Individualized Digital DEcision Assist System (IDDEAS), for child and adolescent mental health disorders. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among children and adolescents serves as the case example. The integration of IDDEAS in Norway intends to yield significantly improved outcomes for children and adolescents with enduring mental health disorders, and ultimately serve as an educational opportunity for future international approaches to such CDSS design and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Routine outcome measurement (ROM) is important for assessing the clinical effectiveness of health services and for monitoring patient outcomes. Within Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in the UK the adoption of ROM in CAMHS has been supported by both national and local initiatives (such as government strategies, local commissioning policy, and research). Methods With the aim of assessing how these policies and initiatives may have influenced the uptake of ROM within two different CAMHS we report the findings of two case-note audits: a baseline audit conducted in January 2011 and a re-audit conducted two years later in December 2012-February 2013. Results The findings show an increase in both the single and repeated use of outcome measures from the time of the original audit, with repeated use (baseline and follow-up) of the Health of the Nation Outcome Scale for Children and Adolescents (HoNOSCA) scale increasing from 10% to 50% of cases. Re-audited case-notes contained more combined use of different outcome measures, with greater consensus on which measures to use. Outcome measures that were applicable across a wide range of clinical conditions were more likely to be used than symptom-specific measures, and measures that were completed by the clinician were found more often than measures completed by the service user. Conclusions The findings show a substantial improvement in the use of outcome measures within CAMHS. These increases in use were found across different service organisations which were subject to different types of local service priorities and drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the concern by practitioners of a declining paradigm of child psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Great Britain's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services within the publicly funded Great Britain's National Health Service (NHS). The medical establishment’s perception that child psychoanalytic psychotherapy has no formal evidence base, along with concerns about employment in the field, put the field at risk of becoming obsolete. The development of child psychoanalytic psychotherapy as a treatment and as a discipline since the inception of the NHS in the year 1948 is explored. The threats to psychotherapy from behavioural psychologists and the consolidation of its child psychotherapists with either the Education Service or the NHS are discussed.

Background: Nearly half of all mental health disorders develop prior to the age of 15. Early assessments, diagnosis, and treatment are critical to shortening single episodes of care, reducing possible comorbidity and long-term disability. In Norway, approximately 20% of all children and adolescents are experiencing mental health problems. To address this, health officials in Norway have called for the integration of innovative approaches. A clinical decision support system (CDSS) is an innovative, computer-based program that provides health professionals with clinical decision support as they care for patients. CDSS use standardized clinical guidelines and big data to provide guidance and recommendations to clinicians in real-time. IDDEAS (Individualised Digital DEcision Assist System) is a CDSS for diagnosis and treatment of child and adolescent mental health disorders. The aim of IDDEAS is to enhance quality, competency, and efficiency in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).Methods/design: IDDEAS is a mixed-methods innovation and research project, which consists of four stages: 1) Assessment of Needs and Preparation of IDDEAS; 2) The Development of IDDEAS CDSS Model; 3) The Evaluation of the IDDEAS CDSS; and, 4) Implementation & Dissemination. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used for the evaluation of IDDEAS CDSS model. Child and adolescent psychologists and psychiatrists (n = 30) will evaluate the IDDEAS` usability, acceptability and relevance for diagnosis and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.Discussion: The IDDEAS CDSS model is the first guidelines and data-driven CDSS to improve efficiency of diagnosis and treatment of child and adolescent mental health disorders in Norway. Ultimately, IDDEAS will help to improve patient health outcomes and prevent long-term adverse outcomes by providing each patient with evidence-based, customized clinical care.Trial Registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN12094788. Ongoing study, registered prospectively 8 April 2020 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN12094788. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]