The diagnostic process from primary care to child and adolescent mental healthcare services: the incremental value of information conveyed through referral letters, screening questionnaires and structured multi-informant assessment.

ABSTRACT:

Background

A variety of information sources are used in the best-evidence diagnostic procedure in child and adolescent mental healthcare, including evaluation by referrers and structured assessment questionnaires for parents. However, the incremental value of these information sources is still poorly examined.

Aims

To quantify the added and unique predictive value of referral letters, screening, multi-informant assessment and clinicians' remote evaluations in predicting mental health disorders.

Method

Routine medical record data on 1259 referred children and adolescents were retrospectively extracted. Their referral letters, responses to the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), results on closed-ended questions from the Development and Well-Being Assessment

SUBMITTER: Aydin S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9059622 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature