A longitudinal study of adolescent mental health service use

This study examines longitudinal mental health service use patterns of a sc hool-based sample of adolescents. Based on the Center for Epidemiologic Stu dies Depression Scale scores, a stratified sample of middle-school students was interviewed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophren ia for School-Aged Children: cycle one (n = 579; mean age 12.83) and cycle two (n = 490; mean age 18.65), Service use also was assessed by mailed ques tionnaire: cycle three (n = 330; mean age 20.60). Service use decreased ove r time. Whites and males received significantly more treatment in the first cycle. In the second cycle, service use by race and gender was equal; in t he third cycle,females received more treatment. Those with a psychiatric di agnosis (first cycle, 54%; second cycle, 33%) received treatment in the pri or year. Under-treatment of youth with psychiatric diagnoses is a significa nt problem, with differences in service use by race and gender over time.