Health economics perspectives and evaluation of child and adolescent mental health services

Economic issues have been given a higher profile in policy discussions on child and adolescent mental health, and also in many practice discussions. This review asks why this has happened, what economics potentially has to offer and what it has provided to date. Among other things, the main features of conducting economic research alongside clinical trials for children with psychiatric problems are distinguished. The literature includes some consideration of costs, cost effectiveness, service descriptions, care burden and adulthood longitudinal outcomes.