Emergency Department Screening for Adolescent Mental Health Disorders: The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How It Could and Should Be Done

Abstract

Mental health problems are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among pediatric populations. Screening for these problems can result in earlier identification and increase treatment and improve outcomes for these children and adolescents. The emergency department (ED) is an ideal site for such screening. Pediatric ED patients are known to be at higher risk for mental health problems. For many, an ED visit is one of the few opportunities to identify and intervene with these children and adolescents. A number of brief, efficient screening instruments have been developed for the ED setting. Screening for mental health problems is both feasible and acceptable to ED patients, parents, and caregivers.

PTSD, cyberbullying and peer violence: prevalence and correlates among adolescent emergency department patients

“…Some studies suggest that the emergency department (ED) may be an appropriate location to screen adolescents for PTSD and other psychiatric disorders 42,43 , given the large number of high-risk adolescents seen in the ED and the important role of the ED as a liaison to community mental health services 44 . Emergency physicians, however, are currently limited in their understanding of the prevalence and impact of PTSD in adolescent ED patients 45 , particularly among patients who are not necessarily presenting in the aftermath of an obviously traumatic event.…”

Levels of Teen Dating Violence and Substance Use in an Urban Emergency Department

“…17 Importantly, for many adolescents that do not have a primary care provider or the resources to access regular health care services, the ED serves as their primary source of medical care. 17 Importantly, for many adolescents that do not have a primary care provider or the resources to access regular health care services, the ED serves as their primary source of medical care.…”

Science, conscience et adolescence… Commentaire sur l’article « Les urgences, un lieu de repérage des adolescents en difficulté »

“…., « un lieu de repérage des adolescents en difficulté » ? L'idée n'est certes pas nouvelle [6], mais l'article ne dit mot sur ce qu'il faudrait en faire, ni comment le faire. Peut-être conviendrait-il, avant toute chose, de s'assurer que les urgences s'occupent déjà correctement des adolescents manifestement mal en point !…”