title: Pediatric psychiatric emergencies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pediatric psychiatric emergencies, on the increase in emergency departments, challenge mental health professionals and nurses.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To focus on the information needed to evaluate pediatric psychiatric emergencies and the information-gathering process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Personal observations and experiences, published literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficiency and efficacy with which pediatric psychiatric evaluations are conducted depend on the evaluator's knowledge of the minimum required information for such assessment and the strategies available for overcoming barriers.
authors.affiliation: Washington Adventist Hospital, Takoma Park, MD, USA. nfalsafi@aol.com
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Falsafi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003419:Crisis Intervention; D004630:Emergencies; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009733:Nursing Diagnosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology