Short Research Article: Do demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics influence the number of psychological intervention sessions attended by young people in need of mental health care?

Abstract

Background and method: A cohort study using secondary data assessed associations between baseline characteristics and psychological sessions attended in young persons discharged from a Children and Young People's Mental Health Service in 2019.

Results: There were 584 persons who attended a median of seven sessions. On multivariable regression analysis, males attended fewer sessions than females, young people from more affluent communities attended more sessions than those from poorer communities and those presenting with eating disorders and self-harm in particular attended more sessions than those with anxiety.

Conclusions: Addressing why these associations occur may improve mental health care in young persons.

Keywords: Adolescence; Deprivation; Self-harm; Service development; Therapy.