[Consultation as a bridge between child and adolescent psychiatry and primary and secondary care].

Abstract

Background: Consultation from child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) to primary and secondary mental health care providers offers a promising means of ensuring appropriate and timely care for youth with mental health problems. The possibility of (advisory) consultation can enhance the competencies of primary and secondary mental health care professionals, reduce (unnecessary) referrals to CAP, and thus improve continuity of care.

Aim: Evaluate the consultation and advice team (CAT) within a CAP institution, to gain insight into its processes and the experiences of both consultees and consulters.

Method: Thematic analysis was conducted on 9 semi-structured interviews with consultees and consulters and 5 observations of CAT meetings. Additionally, a descriptive analysis was conducted on data from 21 consultation forms.

Results: The CAT was perceived as valuable by both consultees and consulters. Consultees felt more competent following consultation, while consulters were satisfied with CAT’s work process. Analysis of the consultation forms indicated that only one youth was referred to CAP after CAT consultation.

Conclusion: The CAT appears to be a promising approach for bridging the gap between CAP and primary and secondary youth mental health care. This evaluation provides practical insights for further developing this form of consultation within CAP.