Mental Health Policy in the Era of COVID-19.

The response to the global COVID-19 pandemic has important ramifications for mental health systems and the patients they serve. This article describes significant changes in mental health policy prompted by the COVID-19 crisis across five major areas: legislation, regulation, financing, accountability, and workforce development. Special considerations for mental health policy are discussed, including social determinants of health, innovative technologies, and research and evaluation.

Are Psychiatrists Ready for Health Care Reform? Findings From the Study of Psychiatric Practice Under Health Care Reform.

Objective: This study sought to describe the extent to which psychiatrists, prior to insurance expansions under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), reported currently participating or being likely to participate in integrated services delivery models, to assume new roles, to accept new reimbursement structures, and to use electronic health records (EHRs).

Methods: A cross-sectional probability survey of U.S.

Availability of Mental Health Services Prior to Health Care Reform Insurance Expansions.

Objectives: This study sought to examine psychiatrists' perceptions of gaps in the availability of mental health and substance use services and their ability to spend sufficient time and provide enough visits to meet patients' clinical needs.

Methods: A cross-sectional probability survey of U.S.

Practice parameter for child and adolescent forensic evaluations.

This Parameter addresses the key concepts that differentiate the forensic evaluation of children and adolescents from a clinical assessment. There are ethical issues unique to the forensic evaluation, because the forensic evaluator's duty is to the person, court, or agency requesting the evaluation, rather than to the patient. The forensic evaluator clarifies the legal questions to be answered and structures the evaluation to address those issues.

Practice parameter for the psychiatric assessment and management of physically ill children and adolescents.

This practice parameter describes the psychiatric assessment and management of physically ill children and adolescents. It reviews the epidemiology, clinical presentation, assessment, and treatment of psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents with physical illnesses and the environmental and social influences that can affect patient outcome.

Advocating for children and adolescents with mental illnesses.

The mental health community has made tremendous strides in eradicating stigma, demanding policy change, and improving the lives of children and adolescents with mental illnesses, accomplished through advocacy at all government levels and assisted by community involvement. However, addressing access to care for children and adolescents with mental illnesses is still challenging. Legislators are often unaware of children's mental health issues.

Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with substance use disorders.

This practice parameter describes the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with substance use disorders and is based on scientific evidence and clinical consensus regarding diagnosis and effective treatment as well as on the current state of clinical practice. This parameter considers risk factors for substance use and related problems, normative use of substances by adolescents, the comorbidity of substance use disorders with other psychiatric disorders, and treatment settings and modalities.

Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with enuresis.

Enuresis is a symptom that is frequently encountered in child psychiatric evaluations. Careful assessment is required to identify specific urologic, developmental, psychosocial, and sleep-related etiologies. For most children with enuresis, however, a specific etiology cannot be determined.

Practice parameter for use of electroconvulsive therapy with adolescents.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be an effective treatment for adolescents with severe mood disorders and other Axis I psychiatric disorders when more conservative treatments have been unsuccessful. ECT may be considered when there is a lack of response to two or more trials of pharmacotherapy or when the severity of symptoms precludes waiting for a response to pharmacological treatment. The literature on ECT in adolescents, including studies and case reports, was reviewed and then integrated into clinically relevant guidelines for practitioners.