Severe Mental Illness among Adolescents – Closing the Gap Between Research and Clinic
Poster C33, Saturday, October 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Kjersti Karlsen1, Paul Møller1, Lise Baklund1, Dag V. Skjelstad1,2; 1Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, 2University of Oslo
PURPOSE: Psychosis and other severe mental illnesses (SMI) are underdiagnosed in help-seeking adolescents, and the duration of untreated illness is longer than in adults. Youth exhibiting fluctuating, complex, and undifferentiated conditions at CAMHS are often not well understood, nor assessed systematically by clinicians. Thus, we commence a new clinical practice at the CAMHS in Vestre Viken Hospital Trust, Norway, to implement what is currently known, and to generate new knowledge on the early course of SMI in adolescence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This competence augmentation project contains three parts; 1) improvement of skills and routines on early screening, diagnostics and intervention in SMI and at-risk conditions among CAMHS clinicians, 2) research on data collected from part 1, and 3) establishing an expert team in CAMHS managing the link between clinic and research. All new patients in CAMHS aged 12-18 years (approximately 1500 per year) are screened to identify at-risk states and SMI, including psychosis. Adolescents scoring 6 or more on PQ-16 are assessed with Kiddie-SADS, SIPS, and other instruments, within a month after admission. RESULTS: UHR positive adolescents who remain UHR positive will be followed for at least three years with annual assessments to examine diagnostic trajectories and predictors. Results will be presented in the future. Also, the project may enhance skills and strengthen dialogue between clinic and research. CONCLUSION: There is a need for more knowledge on SMI in adolescents and to apply existing knowledge to improve outcome.
Topic Area: Service System Development and Reform