Challenges of managing pediatric mental health crises in the emergency department

Thomas H Chun; Emily R Katz; Susan J Duffy; Ruth S Gerson

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.09.003

Challenges of managing pediatric mental health crises in the emergency department

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2015 Jan;24(1):21-40. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2014.09.003. Epub 2014 Oct 3.

Authors

Thomas H Chun¹, Emily R Katz², Susan J Duffy³, Ruth S Gerson⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. Electronic address: Thomas_Chun@brown.edu.
² Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
³ Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, 222 Richmond Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA.
⁴ Bellevue Hospital Children's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, 462 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.

PMID: 25455574
DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2014.09.003

Abstract

Children with mental health problems are increasingly being evaluated and treated in pediatric clinical settings. This article focuses on the epidemiology, evaluation, and management of the 2 most common pediatric mental health emergencies, suicidal and homicidal/aggressive patients, as well as the equally challenging population of children with autism or other developmental disabilities.

Keywords: Autism; Developmental disorders; Pediatric; Psychiatric emergency.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Autistic Disorder / therapy
Child
Developmental Disabilities / therapy
Emergency Medicine / methods*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Female
Homicide / psychology
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders / therapy*
Pediatrics / methods*
Risk Assessment
Suicide / psychology
Violence / psychology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding