title: [Characteristics of individuals and care delivered at the psychosocial care centers for children and adolescents].
abstract: This study aimed to provide an understanding of diagnosis, demographic characteristics, and treatment procedures for children and adolescents attending Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPSIS) in Brazil, 2003. It was a cross-sectional descriptive study using secondary data. The analysis considered three groups of variables related to: (a) the nature of the services; (b) patient profile; and (c) types of care. Seven CAPSIS that had recorded their procedures during all 12 months of 2003 participated in the study. The units involved treated 1,456 individuals, 62.8% of whom were males 11-13 years of age. Nearly half (49.3%) were treated in non-intensive care. The most frequent diagnoses were behavioral and emotional disorders (44.5%). There was no record of treatment related to use of psychoactive substances. The proportion of severe disorders was 19.4%. The CAPSIS operate in similar fashion to older outpatient units, but treat a variety of problems, creating a record according to types of activities. These services fill a historical gap in public mental health care for children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Coordenação-Geral de Gestão do Conhecimento, Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, Brasil. cristina.hoffmann@ig.com.br
authors.forename: Maria Cristina Corrêa Lopes
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Darci Neves
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Eduardo Luiz Andrade
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mota
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult