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. 2023 Nov 28;17(1):131.
doi: 10.1186/s13034-023-00678-9.

Transitioning to adult mental health services for young people with ADHD: an Italian-based survey on practices for pediatric and adult services

Elisa Roberti  1 , Francesca Scarpellini  1 , Rita Campi  1 , Michele Giardino  2 , Antonio Clavenna  1 , Maurizio Bonati  3 ; TransiDEA group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Transitioning to adult mental health services for young people with ADHD: an Italian-based survey on practices for pediatric and adult services

Elisa Roberti et al. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. .

Abstract

Background: Supporting young ADHD patients in transition to adult services is essential. Yet, the low percentages of successful referrals and the issues reported by patients and clinicians stress the need for further attention to transitioning practices. The present study assessed the transitioning process of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) patients in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) in the Italian territory. We asked child and adult psychiatrists to report the current state of services and their observations on limitations and possible future matters that must be addressed.

Method: Seventy-seven centers (42 CAMHS, 35 AMHS) filled in a web-based survey in which they reported the number of ADHD patients, how many transitioning patients they had within the past year, and how they structured transition.

Results: A fragmented picture emerged from the survey. Lack of resources, training, and communication between services hinder the transition process, and many adult patients remain under CAMHS' care. While some services have a protocol, there is no structured guidance that can help improve integration and continuity of treatment.

Conclusion: The observed situation reflects a need for improvement and standard guidelines to enable a successful transition process, considering clinicians' and patients' necessities.

Keywords: ADHD; Adult ADHD; Health services; Survey; Transition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. All authors certify that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest or non-financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Methods, time required, interviews planned, and professional figures involved in the transition process for both CAMHS and AMHS. Compilers were given the opportunity to provide multiple responses
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Numbers and percentages of the responses to the main questions of the survey
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Limitations and desired changes in the future as reported by both CAMHS and AMHS. Some observations are shared (centered), others are limited to CAMHS (left side) or AMHS (right side)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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