An approach to preventive intervention in child psychiatry

A conceptual model for primary prevention is proposed. Its five elements are (1) Risk Factors that increase the likelihood of (2) eventual Mental Disorder contingent upon (3) intervening psychological stresses that promote Crises, which the individual may master more or less effectively dependent on (4) his current psychological Competence and (5) the powerful influence of Social Supports. The paper summarizes recent preventive intervention efforts and evaluative studies that focus on these elements in seeking to reduce psychiatric disorders in child populations: reduction of risk factors through mental health consultation and collaboration by mental health clinicians with child care workers and administrators; improvement of competence in children t risk by special educational programs with children and their parents that seek to enhance their cognitive and emotional programs with children and their parents that seek to enhance their cognitive and emotional problem-solving and coping skills; crisis intervention for children and their families by anticipatory guidance and preventive intervention; and fostering protective social supports by convening supportive groups for persons in need, and organizing mutual help groups, both of which seek to provide individuals under stress with help with emotional reequilibrium and cognitive guidance to compensate for capacities that are usually temporalily eroded by the upheaval of crisis.