The Benefits of Letter Copying in Child and Family Mental Health

In this qualitative study in a child and adolescent mental health service setting, clinical letters written by one clinician were copied to 67 families. Feedback was sought from these families and was received from just under half of them. A majority found their letters helpful. Nearly all approved of the principle of copying. The requirement to copy meant extra effort for the clinician, but it had positive effects on both letter writing and clinical practice. There are grounds on which to argue that copied letters may have a 'therapeutic effect'.