Integrated Behavioral Health in Well-Child Visits: The Impact on Adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics Health Supervision Guidelines

2011

Research has demonstrated the stability of behavioral problems identified during the preschool period (Lerner, Invi, Trupin, & Douglas, 1985; Verhulst & Van der Ende, 1995). Children and adolescents who experience behavioral problems are more likely to experience poor adjustment and psychopathology as an adult (Costello, Foley, & Angold, 2006; Kim-Cohen, Caspi, Moffit, et al., 2003) and if children's behavioral problems are identified and treated early, future problems may be prevented. In addition, when behavioral health needs are addressed in children, medical costs are reduced (Chiles, Lambert, & Hatch, 1999; Valleley, Polaha, & Evans, 2004). The negative trajectory associated with untreated behavioral and developmental problems during childhood has prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to recommend that pediatric providers devote more time to counseling and anticipatory guidance for behavioral health (Cassidy & Jellinek, 1998; Williams et al., 2004; Simonian, 2006). However, many studies have documented that pediatric providers identify less than half of the behavioral health concerns present in the children they see (Dulcan, Costello, Costello, Edelbrock, Brent, & Janiszewski, 1990). Further, pediatricians often have limited training on behavioral health issues.

Conference presentations and posters presented

Consumers/Families, Professionals, Students

N/A