The transfer process from child and adolescent mental health services to adult mental health services for patients with childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorders: first case-control study from Türkiye.

Background: The transfer from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS) can be challenging, particularly for adolescents with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) requiring long-term follow-up.

Aims: To examine the transfer process from CAMHS to AMHS in a university hospital in Türkiye, focusing on challenges, service gaps and barriers to transfer for individuals with NDDs.

Method: Hospital records of children with NDDs followed in CAMHS for at least 5 years were reviewed. Children with at least one annual admission until 2017-2018 were included. A total of 211 patients were categorised into two groups: those who transferred to AMHS by 2018-2019 (transferred group, 81 patients) and those who did not transfer (non-transferred group, 130 patients). Clinical features, such as primary diagnosis and treatments, were compared, and parental views on the transfer process were collected via telephone interviews.

Results: The transferred group included 81 patients (38.4%), whereas the non-transferred group had 130 patients (61.6%). Of the total sample, 55 (26.1%) were female, and 156 (73.9%) were male. Primary diagnoses were similar between groups; however, the transferred group had more comorbidities (P < 0.001) and more frequent antipsychotic prescriptions (P = 0.006). Proactive information from CAMHS doctors (B = 2.46, s.e. = 0.68, P < 0.001) and psychiatric comorbidities predicted transfer. In addition, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnoses changed during transfer in the transferred group (P = 0.002).

Conclusion: These findings emphasise the need for tailored transition support to enhance mental healthcare for NDD patients and indicate areas where further research is required to address healthcare barriers.