Setting Australian research priorities for child mental health clinical trials: A Delphi study.

Objective: To identify Australian research priorities for clinical trials in child mental health (0-12 years).

Methods: A Delphi consensus study across three rounds was carried out with child mental health professional and lived experience experts. Potential research priorities for rating by the experts were identified from a rapid review; content analysis of government strategies and targeted calls for research; and panellists' suggestions. The highest rated priorities were then reduced to a smaller number of top priorities using a resource allocation exercise.

Results: A total of 391 potential priorities were rated by 66 panellists. Panellists endorsed 75 priorities for trials covering a range of mental health interventions (promotion, prevention, assessment, and treatment), as well as overarching priorities applicable to all types of trials. The final resource allocation exercise refined these further to 12 top research priorities, including two promotion trial priorities, seven prevention and assessment trial priorities, and four treatment trial priorities.

Conclusion: Results will aid the Growing Minds Australia Clinical Trials Network's review, prioritisation, and endorsement of future clinical trials in child mental health. The findings can also be used to inform key stakeholders in child mental health on where clinical trial research efforts have focused in the past and what should be considered a priority in the future.