Initial appointment nonattendance in child and family mental health clinics

Current medical, psychiatric, and nursing sources were examined for literature concerning the problem of initial appointment nonattendance at child and family mental health clinics. The factors proposed to underlie missed initial appointments were reviewed and found to be both contradictory and inconsistent. Interventions designed to increase attendance were considered. These interventions were found to significantly increase attendance consistently. However, it is noted that the research on underlying factors is not utilized in structuring these interventions. Suggestions for future research to address this problem are offered.