[Child psychiatry: limited research, evidence for cost-effectiveness of treatment].

BACKGROUND: Research into cost-effectiveness of treatment of child psychiatric disorders is extremely limited. There are two main reasons for this: it's a new field and the type of research required is intrinsically complicated.
AIM: To review selected articles that reveal the prevalence of child psychiatric disorders, demonstrate the complexity of cost-efficiency research in child psychiatry and point to the possible benefits of appropriate treatment.
METHOD: We provide an overview of a selected number of articles dealing with the prevalence of child psychiatric disorders and the costs involved, we stress the diffulty of assessing whether current treatment is cost-effective and we describe the possible benefits of treatment.
RESULTS: However, the limited number of articles that we located do indicate that the treatment of children with psychiatric disorders is cost-effective. Not only does it benefit the child, it also eases the burden on the parents and on society as a whole. Findings need to be interpreted in the light of the limited scope and shortcomings of the research done so far.
CONCLUSION: Although current research seems to be cost-effective, we stress the need for further investigations, particularly in the form of longer-term studies.