An examination of mental health services offered by cleft/craniofacial teams.

Questionnaire data about mental health services provided by teams for patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, or craniofacial anomalies were examined. The subjects were 195 directors of cleft/craniofacial teams. Descriptive analysis of the directors' responses included their teams' patient population, mental health representation, and intervention practices. Nurses and social workers were most frequently identified as the mental health specialists on the teams. Eighty percent of the directors stated that mental health intervention was important to patients and to teams. The type of service and the directors' ratings of the importance of psychosocial issues are presented. Research suggestions are provided.