IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF CHILDRENS MENTAL-HEALTH PROBLEMS BY PRIMARY-CARE PROVIDERS - A CRITICAL-REVIEW OF RESEARCH

This article critically reviews research studies on the identification and treatment of children's mental health problems by primary care pr oviders, Using a valid and reliable instrument to guide the review, th e investigators examined the methods and findings of all 13 studies pu blished on the topic from 1979 to 1994. Overall, primary care provider s appeared to underidentify mental health problems among children and adolescents, especially those whose emotional impairments were not ove rtly severe, Large proportions of youngsters identified as having ment al health problems did not receive needed treatment. Copyright (C) 199 6 by W.B. Saunders Company