Identifying the interactional processes in the first assesents in child mental health
Michelle O'Reilly,Khalid Karim,Victoria Stafford and Ian Hutchby
DOI:10.1111/camh.12077
Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Volume 20, Issue 4, pages 195–201,November 2015
Abstract
Background
A comprehensive assesent is essential to contemporary practice in child and adolescent mental health. In addition to determining diagnosis and management, it is seen as important for clinical engagement and forming a therapeutic relationship. However, there has been little research on the processes which occur during this interaction, particularly in first assesents.
Method
Twenty-eight naturally occurring child mental health initial assesents were video recorded and subjected to the basic principles of the conversation ytic method.
Results
Several processes were identified in a typical child and adolescent mental health assesent. These included introductions, reasons for attendance, problem presentation, decision-making and session closure.
Conclusions
Initial assesents provide a platform for all future engagement with services and an understanding of the processes occurring within this setting is important for the eventual outcomes, particularly in respect to new ways of working such as the Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA).
