title: A longitudinal study of adolescent mental health service use.
abstract: This study examines longitudinal mental health service use patterns of a school-based sample of adolescents. Based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores, a stratified sample of middle-school students was interviewed using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children: cycle one (n = 579; mean age 12.83) and cycle two (n = 490; mean age 18.65). Service use also was assessed by mailed questionnaire: cycle three (n = 330; mean age 20.60). Service use decreased over time. Whites and males received significantly more treatment in the first cycle. In the second cycle, service use by race and gender was equal; in the third cycle, females received more treatment. Those with a psychiatric diagnosis (first cycle, 54%; second cycle, 33%) received treatment in the prior year. Under-treatment of youth with psychiatric diagnoses is a significant problem, with differences in service use by race and gender over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA. SPC45@WSHPI.DMH.STATE.SC.US
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Cuffe
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Addy
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: McKeown
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moloo
authors.forename: C Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Garrison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data