title: Mental Health Issues in Foster Care.
abstract: Children in foster care have exceptional needs due to their histories of abuse, neglect, and increased exposure to violence. The rates of psychiatric symptoms and disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and reactive attachment disorder, are much higher in children in foster care; furthermore, the rate of these children receiving psychotropic medications is 3 times that of children who are not in foster care. Pediatricians, in their role of providing a medical home, play a central role in safeguarding the physical and mental health of these children. By taking a trauma-informed approach to understanding the unique needs and gaps in their health care, pediatricians can improve the mental health and maximize outcome for children in foster care. [Pediatr Ann. 2016;45(10):e342-e348.].
authors.forename: W David
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Lohr
authors.forename: V Faye
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D005581:Foster Home Care / Q000523:psychology*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services; D065886:Neurodevelopmental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000072143:Pediatricians; D000067073:Psychological Trauma / Q000523:psychology*