Thesis, PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Practicum focusing on the history of the planning and development of children's mental health services in Oregon, with special emphasis on the training of pediatricians and how pediatricians address children's mental health issues. Offers a detailed look at the legislative processes surrounding mental health program development, as the heightened role that referrals play in how treatment is identified and administered.

Background and Objectives The prevalence of child and adolescents mental health problems has been increasing in Hong Kong and is comparable to that of the world. It is estimated that the mental health problems of the future generations would account for 15% to 30% of their disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and become a healthcare burden on societies in the near future. Therefore, it is necessary to address their mental healthcare needs now. The objective of the project is to review how the mental health services for children and adolescents have been changing in Hong Kong throughout the past few decades and to assess whether the local services have improved. While the service advancement in adult and old age (for example dementia) psychiatry has been significant, the children and adolescent mental health services would be reviewed by using the Donabedian framework. Based on some local and western models, the project will also address what the local healthcare providers can do for the children and adolescents with the capacity of developing multi-disciplinary and community-based integrated care as well as primary care and prevention. Service gap and areas of improvement on addressing the healthcare needs would be identified for the consideration of policymakers. Methods This project is a literature review. Archives of the Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists and Paediatricians, PubMed, PsycInfo, World Psychiatry, Lancet, etc have been searched with keywords including “children”, “adolescents”, “mental health services”, “child psychiatry” and “Hong Kong”. Journals from 1991 to 2011 have been retrieved. Publications and official sites of Hospital Authority and government organizations have also been searched. 52 journals, articles and online sources have been searched. 38 papers are identified and 19 are providing relevant materials. Studies with aggregated population level data rather than clinical studies which focus on symptoms and treatment of individuals are much more useful and providing more relevant information to this project. Results Secondary and tertiary care, in terms of screening, detection, in-patient and out-patient setting and rehabilitation services have been developed in Hong Kong since the 1980s whilst there are rooms for further development on primary care and prevention. An integrated approach, which emphasizes early identification and treatment by specialists-led multi-disciplinary professionals, has been more prominent. The stigmatization, which would result in reluctance of treatment, should also be addressed by enhancing the public understanding and awareness on the mental healthcare needs of children and teenagers. Conclusions It is necessary to work on the improvement of child and adolescent mental health in the primary, secondary and tertiary care in Hong Kong at present. Policymakers shall consider strengthening the support for child and adolescent psychiatry services in addition to the adults’. / published_or_final_version / Public Health / Master / Master of Public Health

This thesis is a descriptive study of five child day treatment centers in Oregon. Its purpose was to generate hypotheses about the relationships between parent reactions to the day treatment center, the center’s theoretical orientation toward treatment, and the organizational structure of the center. The five centers involved in the study were: Poyama land in Independence, Oregon; the Child Psychiatric Day Center in Portland, Oregon; Mid-Columbia Children’s Center in the The Dalles, Oregon; the Child center in Eugene; and Edgefield Lodge in Troutdale, Oregon. These centers were selected for this study because of their proximity to the Portland area and their requirement that parents be involved in their child’s treatment program. Data were collected by a parent questionnaire, a staff questionnaire, and an interview with the executive director of each program. All three data collection instruments were designed specifically for use in this study.

MMed, Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / Introduction: National and international child and adolescent mental healthcare policy and action advocate that the health and well-being of children in South Africa should be increasingly given greater attention. Child and adolescent services have recently been established at Rahima Moosa Hospital. The purpose of this study was to describe the scope, capacity and diagnostic profile of existing child and adolescent mental health and psychiatric services at Rahima Moosa Hospital within the context of the available infrastructure and service rendering and to describe the demographic and clinical profile of the users. Method: A descriptive, retrospective clinical audit study of the data from users‟ clinical files was performed. The study population comprised all users treated at the Rahima Moosa Hospital over a one-year period from January to December 2007. Descriptive statistical analyses of demographic and socio-economic variables were made and these variables were compared with the presenting clinical problems. P-values of less than 0.05 were regarded as significant. Odds ratios were also calculated for variables that showed a statistically significant association. Results: During this period a total of 303 users attended this clinic. Their age, gender, race and catchment area was reviewed. Socio-economic variables that were described included caregiver of user, placement, parents‟ well being and marital status, educational level of caregiver and household income. Most common disorders were Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Mood, Anxiety, Elimination, Attachment, Disruptive behaviour disorders and V-code diagnoses. Although not regarded as psychiatric diagnoses, V-codes are problems that are the focus of clinical attention. These include 5 sexual abuse, academic problems and parent-child relationship difficulties. Statistical comparisons between demographic data and disorders revealed that being male increased the likelihood of presenting with AHDH and disruptive behaviour disorders; being female increased the likelihood of being sexually abused. Race showed a significant association with parent-child relationship difficulties. Regarding socio-economic variables, the identity of the caregiver of the child influenced the risk of disruptive behaviour disorders, sexual abuse, neglect and academic problems. Placement was a risk factor for disruptive behaviour disorders, sexual abuse, neglect and academic problems. Whether the mother of a user was alive or deceased was related to ADHD and disruptive behaviour and whether the father of a user was alive or deceased was related to sexual abuse and academic problems. The education level of the caregiver showed a significant association with sexual abuse, neglect and academic problems; the marital status of the parents showed a significant association with bereavement. Household income was associated with sexual abuse, neglect and academic problems. Type of housing showed an association with the risk of sexual abuse. Discussion: This study clearly demonstrates the huge impact that socio-economic circumstances have on the prevalence of childhood disorders; hence the urgent need for government and social welfare departments to improve on the socio-economic status of communities. Job creation and employment will lead to better outcomes and help lower the incidences of childhood illnesses. The focus should be on preventative measures, that is, improving the social well-being of both children and their parents, which will result in lower prevalence of disease. Moreover, interventions in schools and children‟s homes should be 6 implemented. The provision of psycho-education for the group in the catchment with regard to identification of mental health problems can contribute to the early detection of mental illness and early intervention leading to a reduction in disease. Conclusion: In spite of government‟s initiative to prioritise child and adolescent mental health services in South Africa, further endeavours are required to improve psychiatric services among this section of the population, including more clinics and child psychiatry training posts and extended social work services. Socio-economic factors influence the prevalence of childhood disorders. Hence, modifying the environment to which these children are exposed is an integral part of the holistic treatment approach

Not available / text

The purpose of this study was to assess the sources of referrals of children with psychological instabilities and the types of problems referred for treatment to the Five County Mental Health Clinic in Warsaw, Indiana.The research was planned to answer two questions: (1) Will the distribution of referral sources be the same for five comparable counties? (2) Will a similar occurrence of delinquent and neurotic behavior be recognized and referred for treatment ineach county?The research was based on the records of 461 children representing all the referrals made to the Clinic in 1973 and 1974. The chi-square test was used to measure factual data quantitatively and to determine significant differences in observed and expected occurrences.The findings show that similar professional groups in comparable counties varied significantly in their utilization of clinic services. No epidemiological studies were done to account for these differences in the sources of referrals from one county to another. It is hypothesized that a difference in knowledge of available services and necessary procedure for establishing contactwith the clinic, a need for specific mental health information to aid in the detection of childhood maladjustments, and stigma attached to psychiatric help are responsible factors.Secondly, the research revealed that unique county characteristics did not influence reasons for referrals to the clinic significantly. For example, one might have expected Kosciusko County, which received national attention as a source of a wild marijuana crop, to show more referrals for drug abuse. This assumption was not supported.Additional examination of the findings also pointed out the need for creating an awareness of the importance of earlier detection and treatment of emotional instabilities. Clinical experience indicates that prognosis is more favorable the earlier a psychiatric problem is treated. This data, however, showed that about one-half of the referred children were in their teens before professional assistance was explored.Finally, the groups of caregivers such as physicians, guidance counselors, ministers, courts, and social welfare agencies who referred few children were isolated in this study. Strengthening appropriate communication channels with these professionals and agencies could increase the effectiveness of the consultative services provided by the clinic and more adequately fulfill regional needs.Since a caregivers's decision to make a referral is a high subjective one and may be threatening to this individual in terms of reflecting his professional competency, the consultative services provided by the clinic are of vital importance.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 227-244).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Victoria University (Melbourne, Vic.), 2006. / Includes bibliographical references.