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. 2020 Aug;74(4):298–304. doi: 10.5455/medarh.2020.74.298-304

Table 2. Short description of studies included in the systematic review.

Study # Authors (Year) Country Aim Participants (age, population group, number) Method/ instrument and author Content of instruments/interviews Findings
1 McArdle and Lambie (2018), New Zealand Describe prevalence of probable mental health disorder and related needs
among young people in secure facilities in New Zealand
13 - 17 yrs (n=204)
admitted to a Youth Justice residence
Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument Version 2 (MAYSI-2).
Grisso & Barnum (2006)
52 items, 7 scales of mental health or behavioural problems:
Alcohol/drug use
Angry-irritable
Depressed-anxious
Somatic complaints
Suicide ideation
Thought disturbance (only for male participants)
Traumatic experience
  • High levels of mental, emotional and behavioral problems

  • High rates of problem in drug and alcohol use

  • One fifth of the sample were in the caution or warning range for the Suicide Ideation scale

2 Dorsey et al. (2015), Tanzania Identify mental health problems of children orphaned in the Moshi, Tanzania area who were being cared for in family homes 7-13 yrs (n=37) with their guardians and “local experts” (n=34)
  • Free listing interviews (for children participants and their guardians)

  • Key informant interviews (for “local experts”)

  • Free listings interviews:

    What are the different problems that children who are orphans in this community might experience?

  • Key informant interviews:

    What happens to children when mistreatment/abuse happens?

    What do people do to help children with these feelings and behaviour?

    What should they do to help with these feelings and behaviour?

    What happens to children when not feeling loved happens?

    What do people do to help children with these feelings and behaviour?

    What should they do to help with these feelings and behaviour?

    Tell us more about stress/overthinking. What causes this?

    What do people currently do about it?

    What should people do about it?

  • Mistreatment/abuse

  • Discrimination

  • Isolation

  • Emotional and behavioral problems (e.g. stress/over thinking)

3 Duinhof et al. (2015), The Netherlands Investigate trends in Dutch adolescents; self-reported emotional and behavioral problems between 2003 and 2013 11-16 yrs, secondary education (n=29,352) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Goodman (1977) Five subscales, each including 5 items scored on a three point Likert scale:
Conduct problems
Emotional problems
Hyperactivity
Peer problems
Prosocial behaviour, Strengths
  • Low mean levels of conduct problems, emotional problems & peer problems

  • Moderate mean levels for hyperactivity

  • Stable emotional and behavioral problem levels

4 Anmyr et al. (2012), Sweden Explore and compare how children with cochlear implants, their parents and their teachers perceive the children’s mental health in terms of emotional and behavioral strengths and difficulties 9, 12 & 15 yrs with cochlear implants (n=22), their parent (n=22) and their teacher (n=17) Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Goodman (1977) Five subscales, each including 5 items scored on a three point Likert scale:
Conduct problems
Emotional problems
Hyperactivity
Peer problems
Prosocial behaviour
  • Infrequent complaints of psychosomatic symptoms (emotional symptoms)

  • Emotional difficulties caused by new situations and many fears

  • Get on better with adults than others of their own age (peer problems)

  • Difficulties with concentrating and staying still for a long time (hyperactivity-inattention)

5 West et al. (2012), USA Determine the mental health and service needs of American Indian youth and families in the Chicago area in order to develop culturally-appropriate services to meet these needs American Indian youth (up to 25 yrs) and families (n=107) Focus groups Sample questions from the focus group guide:
What are some of the problems that youth in our community face today?
What do you hear about mental health services in our community?
What would life be like for youth in a healthy family and community?
  • Positive and negative mental health indicators

  • Factors of risk and/or protection

  • Definitions of mental illness

  • Service systems needs

  • Barriers to assessing services

  • Acceptability of existing services

6 Gretton & Clift (2011), Canada Identify the prevalence of mental disorders and mental health needs among incarcerated male and female youths in Canada 12-20 yrs (n=205)
  • Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument Version 2 (MAYSI-2). Grisso & Barnum (2006)

  • Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children Version IV (DISC-IV). Shaffer et al. (2000)

  • 52 item self-report, 6 subscales analysed:

    Alcohol/drug use

    Angry-irritable

    Depressed-anxious

    Somatic complaints

    Suicide ideation

    Thought disturbance (only for male participants)

  • Structured interview that covers psychiatric disorders (according to DSM-IV); anxiety disorders, mood disorders, behavioural disorders, substance use disorders and “other’ disorders (e.g. schizophrenia)

  • Nearly all participants met the criteria for at least one mental disorder

  • Substance abuse and dependence disorders were highly prevalent

  • Aggressive forms of conduct disorder were common and exposure to physical abuse

7 Stathis et al. (2008), Australia Screen for mental health problems in an Australian adolescent forensic populations, secondly, to assess the usefulness of MAYSI-2 in providing a preliminary assessment of those needs and third, to explore the level of mental health problems in vulnerable populations within detention 10-17 yrs held in custody (n=402) Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument Version 2 (MAYSI-2). Grisso & Barnum (2006) 52 items, 7 scales of mental health or behavioural problems:
Alcohol/drug use
Angry-irritable
Depressed-anxious
Somatic complaints
Suicide ideation
Thought disturbance (only for male participants)
Traumatic experience
  • High levels of mental health problems and trauma