title: A National Snapshot of Substance Misuse among Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatients in Malta.
abstract: This paper reports on a patient record survey that was undertaken with the central aim of establishing reliable, baseline information to inform strategic planning and organisation of future CAMHS in Malta. The records of the total population of children and adolescents admitted into the psychatric hospital over a five year period were surveyed. Results showed that the characteristics and circumstances of children and adolescents with mental disorder and comorbid substance misuse in Malta are similar to those described in international studies. The survey emphasised the pressing need for further research into this sub group and also highlighted gaps in reliable data systems locally.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Services, Department of Health, Mount Carmel Hospital, Notabile Road, Attard, Malta, anton.grech@gov.mt.
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grech
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Axiak
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008319:Malta; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology