NCJ Number
208421
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 44 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2005 Pages: 88-95
Date Published
January 2005
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study examined prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders in a older youths placed in the foster care system, examined the timing of disorder onset and system entry, and explored variations in past year prevalence rates.
Abstract
There are roughly 100,000 older youths in the United States foster care system. However, little is known about the extent of psychiatric disorders among these youth. This study of 17 year-old youths from the Missouri Division of Family Services (MDFS) addressed several objectives: (1) to estimate the rates of psychiatric disorders among older youths in the foster care system; (2) to assess the onset of these disorders relative to the entry into the foster care system; and (3) to examine how rates of psychiatric disorder vary by gender, race, child maltreatment histories, and living situation. Results suggested that older youths in the foster care system had a disproportionately high rate of psychiatric disorders with the onset of at least one disorder beginning before entry into the foster care system. The youths had prevalence rates of major depression three times greater and rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) two times greater. The findings underscore the need to provide services to youths and families to address mental health problems before placement outside the home. References