Child and adolescent psychiatry in The Netherlands: patterns of practice 7 years later.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate capacity, demographic composition, and patterns of practice of Dutch child and adolescent psychiatrists, and to compare these findings with the results of a similar investigation in 1996.


METHODS
A postal survey was sent out to all Dutch child and adolescent psychiatrists.


RESULTS
In comparison with 1996, there is an increase in Dutch child and adolescent psychiatry (CAP) capacity. CAP has moved towards being a predominantly female specialty, usually practised as a mono-specialism, rather than combined with adult psychiatry. CAP as a rule is practised within institutions, rather than in private practice.


CONCLUSIONS
The threat of a stark decline in Dutch CAP capacity starting in the year 2006, predicted in 1996, is lifted. The consequences of the findings are discussed in a European perspective.
Boer
Frits
F
Amsterdam Medical Centre, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry de Bascule, 12474, 1100 AL Amsterdam, The Netherlands. f.boer@amc.uva.nl
D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D003625:Data Collection; D005060:Europe; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007325:Institutional Practice / Q000639:trends; D009426:Netherlands; D010822:Physicians, Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000639:trends; D000078329:Workforce