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Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 7/2014

01-07-2014 | Original Contribution

Risk-behaviour screening for identifying adolescents with mental health problems in Europe

Authors: Michael Kaess, Romuald Brunner, Peter Parzer, Vladimir Carli, Alan Apter, Judit A. Balazs, Julio Bobes, Horia G. Coman, Doina Cosman, Padraig Cotter, Tony Durkee, Luca Farkas, Dana Feldman, Christian Haring, Miriam Iosue, Jean-Pierre Kahn, Helen Keeley, Tina Podlogar, Vita Postuvan, Franz Resch, Pilar A. Sáiz, Merike Sisask, Alexandra Tubiana, Peeter Värnik, Marco Sarchiapone, Christina W. Hoven, Danuta Wasserman

Published in: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry | Issue 7/2014

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Abstract

Indicated prevention of mental illness is an important public health concern among youth. The aim of this study was to establish a European school-based professional screening among adolescents, which included variables on both a broad range of risk-behaviours and psychopathology; and to investigate the indicative value of adolescent risk-behaviour and self-reported psychopathology on help-seeking and psychological problems that required subsequent mental healthcare. A two-stage professional screening approach was developed and performed within the multi-centre study “Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe” (SEYLE). The first stage of screening comprised a self-report questionnaire on a representative sample of 3,070 adolescents from 11 European countries. In the second stage, students deemed at-risk for mental health problems were evaluated using a semi-structured clinical interview performed by healthcare professionals. 61 % of participants (n = 1,865) were identified as being at-risk in stage one. In stage two, 384 participants (12.5 % of the original sample) were found to require subsequent mental healthcare during semi-structured, clinical assessment. Among those, 18.5 % of pupils were identified due to screening for psychopathology alone; 29.4 % due to screening for risk-behaviours alone; and 52.1 % by a combination of both. Young age and peer victimization increased help-seeking, while very low body mass index, depression, suicidal behaviour and substance abuse were the best predictors of referral to mental healthcare. Screening of risk-behaviours significantly increased the number of detected students requiring subsequent mental healthcare. Screening of risk-behaviours added significant value in identifying the significant amount of European pupils with mental health problems. Therefore, attention to adolescent risk-behaviours in addition to psychopathology is critical in facilitating prevention and early intervention. Identifying factors that increase compliance to clinical interviews are crucial in improving screening procedures.
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Metadata
Title
Risk-behaviour screening for identifying adolescents with mental health problems in Europe
Authors
Michael Kaess
Romuald Brunner
Peter Parzer
Vladimir Carli
Alan Apter
Judit A. Balazs
Julio Bobes
Horia G. Coman
Doina Cosman
Padraig Cotter
Tony Durkee
Luca Farkas
Dana Feldman
Christian Haring
Miriam Iosue
Jean-Pierre Kahn
Helen Keeley
Tina Podlogar
Vita Postuvan
Franz Resch
Pilar A. Sáiz
Merike Sisask
Alexandra Tubiana
Peeter Värnik
Marco Sarchiapone
Christina W. Hoven
Danuta Wasserman
Publication date
01-07-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry / Issue 7/2014
Print ISSN: 1018-8827
Electronic ISSN: 1435-165X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-013-0490-y

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