Conference paper
OUTPATIENT CARE IN PSYCHIATRY FOR TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH (16 TO 24 YEARS OLD): WHICH TRAJECTORIES OF PSYCHIATRIC CARE IN FRENCH-SPEAKING BELGIUM?
Simone Marchini
orcid.org/0000-0002-0432-5705
; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium ; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium ; Faculty of Medicine, Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) ,Brussels, Belgium
Joana Reis
; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium ; Faculty of Medicine, Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) ,Brussels, Belgium; Mental Health Service ,Universite Libre de Bruxelles Brussels, Belgium
Iman Hussein
; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium ; Faculty of Medicine, Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) ,Brussels, Belgium; Psychiatry Department, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
Veronique Delvenne
; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium ; Faculty of Medicine, Universite Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) ,Brussels, Belgium
Abstract
Background: Transitional age youth (TAY) are a particularly at-risk population in mental health. They have specific needs, not
currently covered between child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS), mainly
because of existing barriers. This retrospective study was carried out to describe sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of
patients who attended a new outpatient program specifically conceived for TAY in Brussels, Belgium. Outcomes related to
trajectories of psychiatric care were analysed, such referral and requester, and final orientation.
Subjects and methods: The total sample included 243 patients aged from 16 to 24 years old who presented for care in this
outpatient program between October 2019 and May 2021. Data were retrospectively extracted from each ps electronic
medical records.
Results: The sample was mainly composed by female participants; the average age was 18.7 (±2.0) years. General practitioner
(18.9%), child and adolescent psychiatrist (18.1%), psychologist (11.5%) and adult psychiatrist (7.4%) referred patients. Leading
symptoms were divided into three dimensions: internalizing (67.5%), externalizing (21.8%) and psychotic (10.7%) ones. After first
assessment, 81.5% of youth were followed-up in our specific outpatient program. Overall, at the end of data collection, youth were
orientated towards ongoing follow-up in this program (37%), AMHS care (21.8%), end of psychiatric care (17.3%) and CAMHS
care (4.1%). 19.8% patients discontinued the proposed care.
Conclusions: This psychiatric outpatient program for TAY represents an innovative contribution to reinforce CAMHS-AMHS
interface in French-speaking Belgium. The analysis of trajectories in psychiatric care suggests positive outcomes of this TAYtailored
clinical program to achieve high quality standard of care in youth mental health. Future research and clinical implementation
programs should further explore which factors influence decision-making process in TAY psychiatric assessment and care.
Keywords
transitional age youth; mental health; outpatient care; psychiatry
Hrčak ID:
274027
URI
Publication date:
16.9.2021.
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