A Call for a Mental Health Services Research Agenda for Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance

Abstract

This paper proposes a research agenda on clinical interventions for youth with serious emotional disturbances (SED). A National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) National Advisory Mental Health Council report on adults with severe mental disorders issued in 1991, led to a research plan and a significant expansion of services research for this adult population. A similar strategy is proposed for children, based on three assumptions: (1) there is a real need for effective treatment; (2) the timing is right; and (3) a small cadre of child clinical and clinical services researchers is prepared to pursue such research. Four topics provide the rationale for NIMH or another agency to commission an expert panel to: (1) conduct an evidence-based review of promising interventions; (2) assess quality indicators; (3) evaluate outcome measures; and (4) reach consensus on a research phase model. A research plan for youth with SED could be endorsed before the new millennium.