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Systematic review of effectiveness and satisfaction evaluation in child and adolescent mental health services in Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2021

D. Leahy Open the ORCID record for D. Leahy [Opens in a new window]  and
F. McNicholas
D. Leahy*
Affiliation:
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry North Lee North, Unit 9 St Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire, Cork, Ireland
F. McNicholas
Affiliation:
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Lucena CAMHS, SJOG, Rathgar, Dublin 6, Ireland CHI Crumlin, Dublin 12, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr Daniel Leahy, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry North Lee North, Unit 9 St Stephen’s Hospital, Glanmire, Cork, Ireland. (Email: Daniel.leahy1@hse.ie)
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Abstract

Objectives:

Increasing numbers of youth experience mental illness, and also require and benefit from specialist child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). Worldwide, such services are underfunded and under-resourced, and services in Ireland are no different. It is vital that existing services are regularly reviewed for both efficacy and acceptability. Our objective was to review published studies evaluating service user satisfaction with CAMHS in Ireland and CAMHS therapeutic efficacy.

Methods:

MEDLINE, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases were systematically searched. Studies were included if they reported on service user satisfaction or an evaluation of CAMHS in Ireland.

Results:

From an initial 125 articles identified, 15 studies meet the inclusion criteria: four reporting on overall CAMHS satisfaction, three on satisfaction where a specific diagnosis was present, while eight evaluated various interventions offered. Whilst most service users perceived services to be satisfactory, important issues relating to accessibility were present. Evidence of efficacy was present for a small number of interventions, but studies were limited by methodological issues.

Conclusions:

There is a dearth of studies evaluating CAMHS in Ireland. The extant literature suggests a positive experience once accessed, but long waiting times and poor collaboration are seen to limit services users’ experience. More robust methodologically sound studies are urgently required. Given the expected increased demand linked to the current COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the resultant compromised financial position, it is essential that scant resources are appropriately directed.

Keywords

Child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS)child psychiatryadolescent psychiatryIrelandoutcome and process assessmentpatient/service user satisfaction

Information

Type
Review Article
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 1 , March 2024 , pp. 107 - 118
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of College of Psychiatrists of Ireland

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