Singh, Swaran P., Paul, Moli, Ford, Tamsin, Kramer, Tami, McLaren, Susan, Hovish, Kimberly, Islam, Zoebia, Belling, Ruth and White, Sarah (2010) Process, outcome and experience of transition from child to adult mental healthcare : multiperspective study. British Journal of Psychiatry, Vol.197 (No.4). pp. 305-312. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.109.075135 ISSN 0007-1250.

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Abstract

Background

Many adolescents with mental health problems experience transition of care from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS).

Aims

As part of the TRACK study we evaluated the process, outcomes and user and carer experience of transition from CAMHS to AMHS.

Method

We identified a cohort of service users crossing the CAMHS/AMHS boundary over 1 year across six mental health trusts in England. We tracked their journey to determine predictors of optimal transition and conducted qualitative interviews with a subsample of users, their carers and clinicians on how transition was experienced.

Results

Of 154 individuals who crossed the transition boundary in 1 year, 90 were actual referrals (i.e. they made a transition to AMHS), and 64 were potential referrals (i.e. were either not referred to AMHS or not accepted by AMHS). Individuals with a history of severe mental illness, being on medication or having been admitted were more likely to make a transition than those with neurodevelopmental disorders, emotional/neurotic disorders and emerging personality disorder. Optimal transition, defined as adequate transition planning, good information transfer across teams, joint working between teams and continuity of care following transition, was experienced by less than 5% of those who made a transition. Following transition, most service users stayed engaged with AMHS and reported improvement in their mental health.

Conclusions

For the vast majority of service users, transition from CAMHS to AMHS is poorly planned, poorly executed and poorly experienced. The transition process accentuates pre-existing barriers between CAMHS and AMHS

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences > Mental Health and Wellbeing Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Teenagers -- Mental health services -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher:	Royal College of Psychiatrists
ISSN:	0007-1250
Official Date:	22 October 2010
Dates:	Date Event 22 October 2010 Published
Volume:	Vol.197
Number:	No.4
Page Range:	pp. 305-312
DOI:	10.1192/bjp.bp.109.075135
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	National Institute for Health Research (Great Britain) (NIHR)

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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