The majority of mental illnesses first appear in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood until the age of 25. Patients in this so-called transitional phase from adolescence to adulthood show a high rate of treatment discontinuation. This is partly because the transition from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) to adult mental health services (AMHS) is complicated for example by unresolved responsibilities, differences between disciplines and administrative hurdles.

But: Successful treatment in these important years is crucial to prevent chronicity and to prevent or reduce negative psychosocial and medical consequences. Ensuring sustained treatment adapted to the specific needs in this important transitional period – e.g., through transitional psychiatric and psychotherapeutic services – is therefore of key importance.

Within the framework of the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), the TraCCS project has two main goals:

1. Capture the current implementation of transitional psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care throughout Germany

2. Recruitment of a care-oriented, longitudinal, transitional cohort as a basis for clinical early intervention and prevention studies