title: Who Should Transition? Defining a Target Population of Youth with Depression and Anxiety That Will Require Adult Mental Health Care.
abstract: The process of transitioning youth from child to adult mental health services is poorly managed, and many adolescents disengage from services during transfer. The waxing and waning of symptoms over time means that some youth who are asymptomatic prior to transfer (15-17 years) will be at high risk for recurrence during the transition period. There are no clear, evidence-based guidelines about who should transfer to adult care. Objectives were to propose: (1) criteria to define anxious or depressed youth (16-21 years) that should transfer and (2) levels of service needed in young adulthood. Natural history of psychopathology and treatment response for depression and anxiety was reviewed. Risk factors for recurrence and persistence, such as initial severity, comorbidity, and family functioning, can help to identify youth requiring transfer. Few controlled treatment studies have examined predictors of long-term course. Recommendations for follow-up care and ongoing monitoring during young adulthood are discussed.
authors: Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, 361 Windermere Rd, Westminister Hall, Room 234E, N6A 3K7, London, ON, Canada. kschraed@uwo.ca.
authors: Kyleigh E
authors: KE
authors: Schraeder
authors: Departments of Psychology, Family Medicine and Paediatrics, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.|Children's Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
authors: Graham J
authors: GJ
authors: Reid
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services; D060305:Transition to Adult Care; D055815:Young Adult