title: [Psychiatric emergencies in childhood and adolescence].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in childhood/adolescence is of 10-15%.The most frequent causes of psychiatric emergence attendances in this age are: behavioral disturbances, suicidal behavior, and depression.The objective of this study is to present the most relevant clinical issues and to guide the initial procedures of psychiatric emergencies in childhood/adolescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-systematic review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relevant clinical issues for psychiatric emergency evaluation of children/adolescents are presented. Clinical presentations are divided in relevant groups of symptoms, due to its frequency and to its impact to patients and their families. Therefore, the following syndromes are presented: aggressive behavior, intoxication, suicidal behavior, psychoses, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, maltreatment against children/adolescents. The initial procedures recommended for each of these conditions are described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychiatric emergencies in childhood/adolescence can be the re-agudization or a first crisis of a psychiatric disorder. The emergency evaluation's objectives are: to identify the diagnosis, the risks for the child/adolescent, the triggering and maintaining factors, and the presence of familiar and social support.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scivoletto
authors.forename: Miguel Angelo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Boarati
authors.forename: Gizela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Turkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent