Engaging Families into Child Mental Health Treatment: Updates and Special Considerations

Date

2010

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Abstract

The current paper reviews recent findings regarding how to conceptualize engagement and factors influencing engagement, treatment attendance rates, and interventions that work. Method: Research related to the definition of engagement, predictors of engagement and treatment termination, attendance rates, and engaging interventions are summarized as an update to the McKay and Bannon (2004) review. Results: Despite ongoing advances in evidence-based treatments and dissemination strategies, engaging families into mental health treatment remains a serious challenge. Within the last several years, a number of technological advances and interventions have emerged to address this problem. Families with children who present disruptive behavior challenges and symptoms of trauma are considered in terms of the unique barriers they experience regarding engagement in treatment. Conclusions: Potential solutions to increase treatment utilization and further research in this area are discussed.

Description

Keywords

research, service utilization, treatment, mental health, engagement

Citation

Gopalan, G., Goldstein, L., Klingenstein, K., Sicher, C., Blake, C., & McKay, M. M. (2010). Engaging families into child mental health treatment: updates and special considerations. Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Journal de l'Académie canadienne de psychiatrie de l'enfant et de l'adolescent.

DOI