Abstract

Systematic Review of Prevention Programs for Children's Mental Health: Evidence to Inform Australian Primary and Secondary Care Services

Author(s)

Jordana Bayer -Centre for Community Child Health and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne

Dr Harriet Hiscock -Centre for Community Child Health and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children�s Hospita

Background/Objective: 
Behavioural And Emotional (Or Mental Health) Problems Affect 1 In 7 Australian Children Or 200,000 Each Year.  Left Untreated, Up To 50% Of Preschool Problems Continue Through The Childhood Years. Community Based Approaches Are Needed To Reduce Their Associated Burden. This Systematic Review Identified Evidence-Based Early Preventive Programs For Behavioural And Emotional Problems For Children Aged 0 To 8 Years.

Method:  
We Located Randomised Controlled Trials Of Early Preventive Interventions By Searching Standard Clinical Databases, Systematic Reviews, And Consulting Expert Reviewers. We Determined Which Programs Were Effective And Ineffective, Dividing The Effective Programs Into Those With High Or Low Risk Of Trial Bias. Among Effective Programs, We Identified The Most Promising For Delivery In Australian Services.

Results: 
Around 50 Early Preventive Interventions Have Been Evaluated By Randomised Controlled Trials. Most Targeted Children's Behavioural Problems, And A Few Targeted Emotional Problems. Three United States Programs Have The Best Balance Of

Evidence: 
In Infancy, The Individual Nurse Home Visitation Program; At Preschool Age, The Individual Family Check Up; At School Age, The Good Behaviour Game Class Program. Three Parenting Programs In England And Australia Appear Promising: The Incredible Years Group Format, Triple P Individual Format, And Parent Education Program Group Format.

Conclusions: 
Effective Early Intervention Programs Exist For Child Behaviour And, To A Lesser Extent, Emotional Problems. Such Programs Could Be Delivered In Community-Based Parent-Child Centres, Up-Skilling Health Professionals And Building Workforce Capacity For Evidence-Based Prevention. Randomised Trial Methods In Staged Roll-Outs Could Determine Population Cost-Benefits Without Delaying Dissemination.