Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie
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Review
Assessing children's disaster reactions and mental health needs: screening and clinical evaluation.
To present a framework for assessing children's disaster reactions and mental health needs. ⋯ Screening is appropriate to identify children at risk for psychiatric disturbance who will need further evaluation to determine diagnosis. Screening should not be used to dictate treatment decisions. Children who screen positive for psychiatric risk should receive a full clinical evaluation. Children determined to be suffering from psychiatric disorders should receive, or be referred for, formal treatment. Children without psychiatric disorders may benefit from psychosocial interventions.