Current global status of social healthcare system for mental disorders in children and adolescents:with system and defense continuity / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To review the current global status of social healthcare systems for mental disorders in children and adolescents, which provide systematic and continuous protection against mental disorders.DATA SOURCES A computer-based search for relevant English articles in Medline database published between January 1980 and March 2005 was conducted with the key words of "mental disorder, children and adolescents, care". The Chinese full-text periodical database and Wanfang database were also searched for relevant Chinese articles published between January 1990 and March 2005 using equivalent Chinese key words of "mental disorder, children and adolescents, care".STUDY SELECTION The articles that reviewed the current status of social healthcare system for mental disorders in children and adolescents were included for analysis, and those not categorized as reviews were excluded.DATA EXTRACTION Totally 58 related articles were collected, among which 13 met the inclusion criteria and 45 were excluded.DATA SYNTHESIS: The current status of social healthcare systems for mental disorders in children and adolescents in Europe, North America,South America, Australia, Asia and Africa were described. The prevention and treatment for mental disorders in Europe and North America were well developed. The training, education and research of mental disease in children in South America were still developing, and the healthcare system in Australia needs further improvement. Lack of professional physicians is the major problem in Asia, whereas a complete protective system has not been well established in Africa and the families assume the role of primary defense against the disorder.CONCLUSION: The comprehensive healthcare services for mental disorders in children and adolescents has been lacking globally. Policy development, cultural understanding in the healthcare, recognition of the important role of nongovernmental organizations, epidemiological research, and professional training can be beneficial efforts to better protect the children and adolescents from mental disorders.