Community physician perceptions of managing complex child and adolescent psychiatric patients: a self-determination theory perspective.

Children and adolescents with complex mental health needs often require a level of care that is unsustainable in tertiary settings. Yet, the psychological impact of this on community physicians, who are tasked with providing quality care to this population, is not well understood. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the present study explores how the challenges of caring for these patients is affecting community physicians' basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and intrinsic motivation.