In Europe, mental health problems among children represent an increasing public health concern. Longstanding, trust-based relationships between pediatricians and families place pediatric primary care in a key position for early identification. Given the limited consultation time, feasible and structured procedures for early identification are needed. This narrative review identifies standardized mental health assessment instruments for pediatric primary care and discusses considerations for their implementation. A structured search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted in August 2024. Peer-reviewed studies published since 2013 that examined standardized mental health assessments in pediatric primary care were included. Instruments were evaluated with regard to psychometric quality and clinical usefulness. Five instruments were identified: the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), its short form PSC-17, the Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). All showed adequate psychometric properties. The SDQ, PSC/PSC-17, and ASQ:SE were considered feasible for routine care. The CBCL, despite strong psychometric properties, appeared less suitable due to its length and scoring complexity.Conclusion: Standardized mental health assessment instruments may support early identification of mental health problems in primary care and facilitate timely referral to treatment. Nonetheless, they should complement rather than replace comprehensive clinical assessment. Successful implementation requires appropriate training, structured referral pathways, and sufficient access to follow-up mental health services.<Table Float="No" ID="Taba"> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec align="left" colname="c1" colnum="1" /> <colspec align="left" colname="c2" colnum="2" /> <tbody> <row> <entry nameend="c2" namest="c1"> What is known: • Pediatricians play a central role in early identification of mental health problems among children. There is currently no consensus on which standardized assessments are suitable for pediatric primary care. </entry> </row> <row> <entry nameend="c2" namest="c1"> What is new: • This narrative review identifies assessments relevant to pediatric primary care and highlights ethical and structural considerations, with particular emphasis on the responsibility to ensure appropriate follow-up care. </entry> </row> </tbody> </tgroup> </Table>

Mental health assessment as part of European pediatric primary care: potential instruments and implementation considerations

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发表日期：

2026年3月27日

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Hannah Schmidt,
Deborah Falke,
Silke Pawils,
Ingo Menrath

摘要

In Europe, mental health problems among children represent an increasing public health concern. Longstanding, trust-based relationships between pediatricians and families place pediatric primary care in a key position for early identification. Given the limited consultation time, feasible and structured procedures for early identification are needed. This narrative review identifies standardized mental health assessment instruments for pediatric primary care and discusses considerations for their implementation. A structured search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus was conducted in August 2024. Peer-reviewed studies published since 2013 that examined standardized mental health assessments in pediatric primary care were included. Instruments were evaluated with regard to psychometric quality and clinical usefulness. Five instruments were identified: the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC), its short form PSC-17, the Ages & Stages Questionnaires: Social-Emotional (ASQ:SE), and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). All showed adequate psychometric properties. The SDQ, PSC/PSC-17, and ASQ:SE were considered feasible for routine care. The CBCL, despite strong psychometric properties, appeared less suitable due to its length and scoring complexity.

Conclusion: Standardized mental health assessment instruments may support early identification of mental health problems in primary care and facilitate timely referral to treatment. Nonetheless, they should complement rather than replace comprehensive clinical assessment. Successful implementation requires appropriate training, structured referral pathways, and sufficient access to follow-up mental health services.

What is known:

• Pediatricians play a central role in early identification of mental health problems among children. There is currently no consensus on which standardized assessments are suitable for pediatric primary care.

What is new:

• This narrative review identifies assessments relevant to pediatric primary care and highlights ethical and structural considerations, with particular emphasis on the responsibility to ensure appropriate follow-up care.