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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Its estimated 15 million children have been diagnosed with a mental disorder, but only about one quarter of them are getting appropriate treatment.
This is the conclusion of the American Psychological Associations Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice with Children and Adolescents. The report also states many more children are at risk and their situations will get worse unless the health care system changes how it delivers services.
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This is especially true for low-income youth, for youth in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, ethnic minority youth and those with drug and/or alcohol problems, Task Force Chairwoman Anne E. Kazak, PhD, was quoted as saying.
The Task Force recommends more evidence-based practice, which includes better integration of clinical experience and research in treating children with mental disorders and making sure those treatments reach young people of all cultures, geographic regions and socioeconomic groups.
The report also says practitioners are effective in helping ethnic minority youth with a variety of issues including anxiety related problems, ADHD, conduct problems and substance use when they are culturally responsive and treat the children long enough to see a benefit.
Further analysis of data also showed the use of empirically tested treatment programs was beneficial for children and parents dealing with autism, eating disorders and anxiety disorders.
The seven-member committee recommends ways for psychologists to build relationships with health and educational institutions to generate more research for clinical practice. They also suggest ways to change policies to make evidence-based practice financially feasible and available to those who need it.
Source: Report of American Psychological Associations Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice for Children and Adolescents, 2008
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