title: Diagnosis and medication overload? A nurse review of the psychiatric histories of older youth in treatment foster care.
abstract: Prior research has raised concern about the appropriateness of psychotropic medication use and the validity of psychiatric diagnosing for youth in child welfare but has lacked in-depth case information. This study reports results from a psychiatric nurse review conducted with eight youth entering a foster care intervention using case records and multiple key informant interviews. Results revealed extensive histories of unique (nonoverlapping) psychiatric diagnoses (M = 8, range 7-9) and past psychotropic medications (M = 13, range 9-21). The findings highlight the need to improve assessment practices and to create mechanisms that promote greater continuity of psychiatric care.
authors.affiliation: Washington University, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah Carter
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Narendorf
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.forename: J Curtis
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: McMillen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs