What is the burden of chronic cough for families?

Background: The burden of children's chronic cough to parents is largely unknown. The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to determine the burden of chronic cough using a purposely designed questionnaire, and (2) to evaluate psychological (child's anxiety and parental emotional distress) and other influences on the reported burden of cough.

Methods: Parents of children newly referred for chronic cough completed three questionnaires (Spence anxiety scale; depression, anxiety, and stress 21-item scale [DASS]; and burden of cough questionnaire) at enrollment.

Developing an integrated substance use and mental health service in the specialised setting of a youth detention centre.

This article describes the frequency of co-morbid substance use and mental health problems of young people within the youth justice system and demonstrates that mental health and drug and alcohol services can be integrated and work effectively. The establishment of an integrated Mental Health Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Service (MHATODS) to juveniles in detention represents a shift away from the traditional paradigm of separate services frequently found throughout Australia. The development of referral procedures and adolescent-focused treatment programmes that are tailored to the specific needs of this disadvantaged population are discussed.