Critical issues for psychiatric medication shared decision making with youth and families

Abstract

Abstract. The primary aims of this paper are to describe the current context for youth shared decision making (SDM) within the U.S. children’s mental health system and to identify important considerations for the development of this approach as a research and service domain. The notion that participation in treatment decisions can prepare youth for making their own decisions as adults, can be therapeutic, and can have positive effects on their self-confidence and self-esteem is substantiated in the literature. Still, the complex youth-family-provider dynamic raises important issues which need to be addressed before SDM can be successfully implemented.