The characteristics and activities of child and adolescent mental health services in Italy: a regional survey

Abstract

Background: To date, no studies have assessed in detail the characteristics, organisation, and functioning of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This information gap represents a major limitation for researchers and clinicians because most mental disorders have their onset in childhood or adolescence, and effective interventions can therefore represent a major factor in avoiding chronicity. Interventions and mental health care are delivered by and through services, and not by individual, private clinicians, and drawbacks or limitations of services generally translate in inappropriateness and ineffectiveness of treatments and interventions: therefore information about services is essential to improve the quality of care and ultimately the course and outcome of mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. The present paper reports the results of the first study aimed at providing detailed, updated and comprehensive data on CAMHS of a densely populated Italian region (over 4 million inhabitants) with a target population of 633,725 subjects aged 0-17 years. Methods: Unit Chiefs of all the CAMHS filled in a structured 'Facility Form', with activity data referring to 2008 (data for inpatient facilities referred to 2009), which were then analysed in detail. Results: Eleven CAMHS were operative, including 110 outpatient units, with a ratio of approximately 20 child psychiatrists and 23 psychologists per 100,000 inhabitants aged 0-17 years. All outpatient units were well equipped and organized and all granted free service access. In 2008, approximately

The interface between child/adolescent and adult mental health services: results from a European 28-country survey

“…developed from an instrument used in the TRACK study [12], and from other questionnaires found in the literature, at national and international level [16][17][18][19]. The SATMEHT assesses characteristics and policies of CAMHS regarding transition.…”

Reasons and pathways of first-time consultations at child and adolescent mental health services: an observational study in Italy

“…A substantial proportion of our sample (30 %) received treatment by a GP or by a private child specialist before consulting CAMHS. It seems unlikely that the first consultation with a private specialist was due to a delay of the first visit in the public healthcare sector, causing a diversion to the private health practice, as most units guarantee an initial visit within 2 weeks from the request [ 12 ]. We can only hypothesize that stigma associated with public mental health services could induce parents of children and adolescents with emotional problems initially to seek help elsewhere (i.e., private psychiatrists or psychologists, school counselors, etc.)…”

“…CAMHSs are part of the NHS, and their costs are fully covered by the NHS. A detailed description of the clinical interventions delivered by CAMHS, which participated in the study have been reported elsewhere [ 12 ].…”

Child and adolescent mental health services in Brazil: structure, use and challenges

“…25 One study regarding CAMH in Italy found a significant reduction in access to treatment when CAs received care in the same facilities as adults, since was associated with stigma. 26 Thus, placing CAPS-II i at the center of CAMH care, could help remove the stigma and reduce the institutionalization of children and adolescents, representing a step forward in the care of children and adolescents with mental health pro-blems.…”