Ethnic minority youth in youth mental health care : utilization and dropout

Haan, A.M. de (2014)

Doctoral Thesis

This thesis focuses on differences between ethnic groups in youth mental health care (YMHC). Three subjects are elaborated: utilization of YMHC, given diagnoses in YMHC, and premature termination (dropout) of therapy in YMHC. The utilization of YMHC services is unequally distributed over different ethnic, gender and age groups, and the percentage of youth in treatment is strongly associated with the ethnic composition of the district they live in. As for given diagnoses, ethnic minority patients receive co-morbid diagnoses less often compared to native Dutch patients, while they more often receive V-codes only. Regarding dropout, treatment/therapist variables are overall stronger dropout predictors than pre-treatment child/parent variables. It depends on the specific ethnic background of the minority patient whether they have a higher chance to dropout than ethnic majorities. Also, an increase in quality of the therapeutic relationship during therapy is associated with therapy completion, while a decrease is associated with dropout. It is advised that YMHC institutions implement measures to heighten their accessibility. Second, gaining insight in the cultural background of the patient, and improving the cross-cultural validity and reliability of the diagnostic process is necessary. Third, therapists should pay attention to factors that increase the dropout risk for their patients

• Youth mental health care
• Dropout
• Diagnoses
• Ethnic minority
• Therapeutic relationship

• All authors: Haan, A.M. de
• Supervisor: Jong, J.T.V.M. de; Vermeiren, R.R.J.M.
• Co-supervisor: Boon, A.E.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Faculty of Medicine (LUMC), Leiden University
• Date: 2014-09-10
• ISBN (print): 9789462592759