title: Child mental health in Latin America: present and future epidemiologic research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report reviews population studies of child and adolescent mental health carried out in Latin America over the past 15 years. Also considered is the issue of how to meet the needs of children and adolescents who may present mental health problems in Latin America, given that most of them live in poverty in economies that are underdeveloped, providing limited resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten studies from six different countries were identified that employed some form of randomized sampling method and used standardized instruments for assessment. The authors present a summary of the main characteristics of these studies, highlighting methodological features that may account for differences in the rates obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, a similar pattern of prevalence and risk factors for mental health problems in children and adolescents in Latin American countries emerged. Moreover, rates of disorders in these children are similar to the 15 to 20% found in other countries. These findings are similar to those observed when adult mental health problems are considered. Prevention and treatment strategies are discussed and the peculiarities of the delivery of mental health services for children and adolescents are explored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future research needs to focus on understanding of resilience and formal and informal mental health delivery systems of care available in different Latin American countries. Such research has high potential for ameliorating the prevention and treatment of child and adolescent mental health problems in this region of the world.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, Brazil. duarte@childpsych.columbia.edu
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoven
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berganza
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.forename: Hector
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Claudio T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Miranda
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004813:Epidemiology / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends*