**7. Conclusion**

Since the first child psychiatric epidemiological studies in the 1950´s and 1960´s, epidemiological research has provided a wealth of empirical findings that may aid develop strategies for improving the mental health outcomes of children. Descriptive epidemiological data on prevalence rates, historical trends, and outcomes of mental health problems can help planning mental health services for children and provide evidence for setting priorities when resources are limited. Etiologic epidemiological research forms the basis for prevention interventions by unravelling the causative mechanisms in the development of psychopathology. Clinical epidemiological strategies are important for more evidence-based approaches to diagnostic assessment and intervention strategies, and outcome research may help improving the quality of mental health services. Finally, more efforts should be put into improving partnerships between epidemiological researchers and prevention specialists and between epidemiological researchers and policy-makers for improving strategies for preventing and treating mental health problems in children.
