Attitudes and Knowledge of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinicians in Relation to the Psychosis Risk Syndrome

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of clinicians in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in relation to the ‘At-Risk Mental State’ concept in psychosis. Methods: A questionnaire was constructed and administered to child and adolescent mental health clinicians working in North East England. Results: Sixty-seven per cent (n = 121) of eligible clinicians responded. Almost all the participants believed that young people ‘At-Risk’ needed support. However, only around half felt confident in identifying this patient group. Approximately a third felt that antipsychotic medication may be useful. Some interprofessional differences were noted in relation to both knowledge and attitudes. Conclusions: Further training would be required for most health workers in this sample to feel confident in identifying the syndrome. These findings require replication in other service settings and may have implications for the implementation of a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, diagnostic category relating to the At-Risk Mental State.