Outpatient care for mentally traumatized children and adolescents in Germany

Abstract

Outpatient care for mentally traumatized children and adolescents in Germany Abstract. Objective: In Germany, information on outpatient care for mentally traumatized children and adolescents are not available. Therefore, the study tried to investigate outpatient care in this patient-group by licensed medical and psychological psychotherapists. Method: Altogether, 206 outpatient psychotherapists with qualification for trauma therapy and license to treat children and adolescents were asked to participate by completing an anonymous standardized questionnaire. Results: The response rate was 44 %. Only 20 out of 92 participants stated that they gained sufficient knowledge regarding mental trauma treatment during their training. Besides, the study revealed that not all traumatized children and adolescents have prompt access to treatment, due to the lack of therapeutic capacities by the psychotherapists. Conclusion: The results point to the problem of not sufficient education on mental trauma in children and adolescents during the training of psychotherapists. Moreover, an increase of the capacities for treatment became obvious. Psychotherapeutic care of traumatized children and adolescents can be difficult in some regions in Germany. Consequently, training and post-graduate education of psychotherapists as well as the planning of outpatient infrastructure should be changed.