Integrated Behavioral Health: Definitions and Contexts.

Most children and adolescents with behavioral and mental health concerns first present to their pediatricians. Although pediatricians are fully cognizant of the importance of addressing behavioral and mental health concerns, they often find it difficult to deliver such care effectively and efficiently within a typical practice setting. Integration of medical and behavioral health care has emerged as a model to deliver such care. In the pediatric primary care practice, integrated behavioral health has been shown to be a cost-effective way to deliver high-quality care. This article describes basic definitions and contexts of integrated pediatric behavioral health.