No boundaries: a 2 year experience in a specialized youth mental health care program in the Netherlands

Sophie Leijdesdorff*, Mary Rose Postma, Laura van Kersbergen, Natalie Marchetta, Therese van Amelsvoort

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Aim Young people around the age of 18 receiving mental health care usually face the transition from child and adolescent (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS) bringing the risk of disruption in continuity of care. Recognizing the importance of early intervention in this vulnerable life-period, this study aims to emphasize the importance of a client-centred approach and continuity of care for this age group. For a deeper understanding of the specific needs of this group, the working method of a Dutch youth mental health (YMH) team working in a secondary mental health care setting is described, including some clinical characteristics and treatment results of patients who accessed this service. Methods Data consist of a detailed description of the working method of the YMH team combined with clinical characteristics of all patients aged 15-25 years accessing the services of the YMH team over a two-year period. Results The YMH team incorporated suggestions of earlier research into a client centred treatment. Key elements were multidisciplinary meetings, transcending diagnosis, flexibility and collaboration with other care providers. Clinical records showed a complex patient population and significant treatment effect. Conclusions The group of emerging adults accessing the YMH team can be described as a patient group with a high diversity and complexity of disorders and problems. Continuity of care was met when patients turned 18, allowing treatments to be successfully performed by the same team of professionals using a client-centred approach.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)228-234
Number of pages7
JournalEarly Intervention in Psychiatry
Volume14
Issue number2
Early online date3 Nov 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2020

Keywords

  • adolescent
  • continuity of patient care
  • early intervention
  • mental health
  • AGE-OF-ONSET
  • LIFETIME PREVALENCE
  • YOUNG-PEOPLE
  • DISORDERS
  • TRANSITION
  • CHILD
  • EPIDEMIOLOGY

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