of the help-seeking pathway study for children and adolescent mental health problems was to investigate all the potential routes to Child/Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic-University Hospital Center (CAPC-UHC) Tirana and to investigate factors influencing this process for children at risk.

Participants were 5-18 years old, newly referred children/adolescents in CAMHS during 2006. Measures used were Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire for parents/children, Pathways Encounter Form. Patterns of care seeking, durations and previous treatments for diagnosis within ICD-10 groups were prescribed. Analysis: Comparisons between groups, diagnosis and predictive factors influencing help seeking care.

The child neurologist played an enormous role in referring the child to CAPC, followed by adult psychiatrist or GP. The most frequent diagnosis resulted to be pervasive developmental disorder (28.4%), phobic and anxiety disorders (19.1%), somatoform and dissociative disorders (17.3%), hyperkinetic and conduct disorder (15.4%).

This is the first study investigating the help seeking process to psychiatric care to CAPC Tirana-Albania. There is a need for further research on a general population level, including primary care settings, preschools and schools based services, because a clearer understanding is required about barriers to service use and also identifying children/adolescents with psychiatric disorders not referred to the specialist. These results could contribute to assisting a successful implementation of the National Service Framework for Children/Adolescents.