Transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Ireland: Case note review

Tatlow-Golden, Mimi; Gavin, Blanaid; McNamara, Niamh; Singh, Swaran; Ford, Tamsin; Paul, Moli; Cullen, Walter and McNicholas, Fiona (2017). Transitioning from child and adolescent mental health services with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in Ireland: Case note review. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 12(3) pp. 505–512.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eip.12408

Abstract

In a context of international concern about early adult mental health service provision, this study identifies characteristics and service outcomes of young people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) reaching the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) transition boundary (TB) in Ireland. The iTRACK study invited all 60 CAMHS teams in Ireland to participate; 8 teams retrospectively identified clinical case files for 62 eligible young people reaching the CAMHS TB in all 4 Health Service Executive Regions. A secondary case note analysis identified characteristics, co-morbidities, referral and service outcomes for iTRACK cases with ADHD (n = 20). Two-thirds of young people with ADHD were on psycho- tropic medication and half had mental health co-morbidities, yet none was directly transferred to public adult mental health services (AMHS) at the TB. Nearly half were retained in CAMHS, for an average of over a year; most either disengaged from services (40%) and/or actively refused transfer to AMHS (35%) at or after the TB. There was a perception by CAMHS clinicians that adult services did not accept ADHD cases or lacked relevant service/expertise. Despite high rates of medication use and co-morbid mental health difficulties, there appears to be a complete absence of referral to publicly available AMHS for ADHD youth transitioning from CAMHS in Ireland. More understanding of obstacles and optimum service configuration is essential to ensure that care is both available and accessible to young people with ADHD.

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About

• Item ORO ID
• 55652
• Item Type
• Journal Item
• ISSN
• 1751-7885
• Project Funding Details

• Funded Project Name	Project ID	Funding Body
  iTRACK study	HRA_HSR/2010/27	Health Research Board (Ireland)

• Keywords
• ADHD; adult mental health services; AMHS; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; CAMHS; child and adolescent mental health services; transition
• Academic Unit or School
• Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport > Childhood, Youth and Sport > Childhood and Youth
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport > Childhood, Youth and Sport
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS) > Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport
  Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (WELS)
• Copyright Holders
• © 2017 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
• Depositing User
• Mimi Tatlow-Golden