Pediatrician-psychiatrist collaboration to care for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, and anxiety.
OBJECTIVE
To describe pediatrician experiences collaborating with psychiatrists when caring for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, and anxiety.


METHODS
A random sample of Massachusetts primary care pediatricians completed a mailed self-report survey.


RESULTS
Response rate was 50% (100/198). Most pediatricians preferred psychiatrists to initiate medications for anxiety (87%) or depression (85%), but not ADHD (22%). Only 14% of respondents usually received information about a psychiatry consultation. For most (88%), the family was the primary conduit of information from psychiatrists, although few (14%) believed the family to be a dependable informant. Despite this lack of direct communication, most pediatricians reported refilling psychiatry-initiated prescriptions for ADHD (88%), depression (76%), and anxiety (72%).


CONCLUSIONS
Pediatricians preferred closer collaboration with psychiatrists for managing children with anxiety and depression, but not ADHD. The communication gap between psychiatrists and pediatricians raises concerns about quality of care for children with psychiatric conditions.
Ross
Wendy J
WJ
Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Chan
Eugenia
E
Harris
Sion Kim
SK
Goldman
Stuart J
SJ
Rappaport
Leonard A
LA
D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D010372:Pediatrics; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011570:Psychiatry; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce