Skills for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Within the Pediatric Primary Care Setting

Abstract

Behavioral health symptoms are a common presenting complaint within the pediatric outpatient setting. In fact, behavioral health symptoms account for 15% of chief complaints1 and inform 50% of presentations within outpatient pediatric practices.2 Yet, despite the pervasiveness of behavioral health symptoms, only 20% of children with a behavioral health disorder in the United States receive treatment.3 In order to increase access to high-quality behavioral healthcare, pediatric settings are beginning to implement integrated behavioral healthcare programs.4 Within integrated behavioral health programs, child and adolescent psychiatrists collaborate with pediatric primary care clinicians and care managers and improve patient outcomes.5