title: Management of the suicidal child or adolescent in the emergency department.
abstract: The pediatrician may be called on either as the primary physician or as a consultant to see a suicidal child or adolescent in the emergency department. Psychiatric consultation may not be available immediately. The pediatrician will then play a pivotal role in the evaluation and disposition of the patient. We discuss the epidemiology, initial approach to evaluation, and a rational plan for deciding when it is safe to discharge the patient from the emergency department.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287-3325, USA.
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Press
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D000465:Algorithms; D019090:Case Management; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016365:Liability, Legal; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000092864:Suicide Prevention