Psychology in primary health care: effects of brief targeted therapy on children's medical care utilization

• Published in: Journal of pediatric psychology Vol. 16; no. 4; p. 447
• Main Authors: Finney, J W, Riley, A W, Cataldo, M F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.08.1991
• Subjects: Adolescent; Child; Child Behavior Disorders - epidemiology; Child Behavior Disorders - therapy; Child, Preschool; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Health Maintenance Organizations; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Infant; Maryland; Mental Health Services - standards; Mental Health Services - statistics & numerical data; Primary Health Care - standards; Primary Health Care - statistics & numerical data; Psychotherapy, Brief - methods; Psychotherapy, Brief - standards; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0146-8693; 1465-735X
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/16.4.447

Evaluated the impact of psychological treatment for 93 children (ages 1-15) with common behavior, toilet, school, and psychosomatic problems. Children and parents, who were members of a health maintenance organization, had 1-6 visits to a primary care-based psychological consultation service. Individualized treatment was guided by problem-specific behavioral protocols. Parent outcome and behavior checklist ratings indicated improvement or resolution for 74% of children and high satisfaction with the psychological service. Children's use of medical services, especially acute primary care visits, was reduced during the year after treatment; a matched comparison group's use was unchanged. Addressing children's unmet mental health needs reduces medical care utilization. A primary health care model of psychological services provides an integrated system for serving the health and mental health needs of children.