Emergency evaluation of adolescents.
Psychiatric emergencies faced by adolescents are often linked to developmental issues such as separating from parents, establishing attachments to peers, and developing autonomy. In a vulnerable adolescent, a stressful developmental event may trigger a pathological response--acute anxiety, depression with or without suicidal ideation or behavior, severe conduct disturbance, a first psychotic episode, or explosive or violent behavior--that requires emergency psychiatric treatment. The basic components of an emergency psychiatric evaluation of an adolescent include initial observation of the patient, taking a history, interviewing the patient and others accompanying the patient, conducting a mental status examination, making a diagnosis, and planning for disposition and further treatment. Such an evaluation may be the first contact with the mental health system for many adolescents, and the intervention of a sensitive clinician may help the adolescent be more comfortable seeking mental health care in the future.
Kalogerakis
M G
MG
New York University School of Medicine, New York.
D000293:Adolescent; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007063:Identity Crisis; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010553:Personality Development; D012931:Social Environment; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention