title: Examining the research base for child mental health services and policy.
abstract: This article reviews the existing research base for child mental health services and policy. It emphasizes the importance of research that looks at the overall community-based system of care as the unit of analysis, and stresses the need to maintain a systems perspective, even when research is focused on components of the overall system. The review concludes that there is a need for a considerable increase in child mental health services research but also indicates that there has been a recent increase in research that has the potential of building a base to change policy. In particular, a need is identified for well-controlled studies that assess both clinical and cost outcomes and for studies that examine the mega issues of the organization and financing of systems of care.
authors: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
authors: B J
authors: BJ
authors: Burns
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States