[The emergency department: an appropriate place for identifying troubled teens].
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of psychological distress among adolescents seen in emergency departments, and the secondary objective was to highlight their main reasons for consulting.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study in three multicenter emergency departments receiving adolescents in Île-de-France conducted in 2010. All adolescents completed a questionnaire including the ADRS (Adolescent Depression Rating Scale, a screening questionnaire for depression) and a series of questions relating to somatization and risk behaviors.


RESULTS
The study included 346 adolescents, 320 of which were fully analyzed. The ADRS score was considered normal (score < 3) for 70.6% of the sample (n = 226), 19.4% of adolescents (n = 62) had moderate depressive symptoms (3 ≤ score < 6), and 10.0% severe depressive symptoms (score ≥ 6) (n = 32). The majority of patients consulted for trauma and less than 10% for acute psychiatric problems; 17% of adolescents who came to the emergency department for a nonpsychiatric reason had an ADRS ≥ 3, i.e., with mental distress.


CONCLUSIONS
The routine use of a self-administered questionnaire in the emergency services could identify adolescents with moderate to severe depressive symptoms.
Service de pédiatrie, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, AP-HP, 9, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92100 Boulogne, France; Inserm U669, université Paris-Sud and université Paris Descartes, 75679 Paris, France.
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C
Stheneur
Service de pédiatrie, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, AP-HP, 9, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92100 Boulogne, France; URC, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, 92100 Boulogne, France. Electronic address: marc.sznajder@apr.aphp.fr.
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M
Sznajder
Service des urgences, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, AP-HP, 92100 Boulogne, France.
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Guyot
Service de pédiatrie, centre hospitalier de Versailles, 78150 Le Chesnay, France.
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S
Martin
Service de pédiatrie, centre hospitalier de Versailles, 78150 Le Chesnay, France.
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S
Nathanson
Service de pédiatrie, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, AP-HP, 9, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92100 Boulogne, France.
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S
Kerbourc'h
Service de pédiatrie, centre hospitalier intercommunal de Créteil, 94000 Créteil, France.
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S
Biscardi
Service de pédiatrie, centre hospitalier intercommunal de Créteil, 94000 Créteil, France.
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D
Delalande
Service de pédiatrie, hôpital Ambroise-Paré, AP-HP, 9, avenue Charles-de-Gaulle, 92100 Boulogne, France; Université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 78000 Versailles, France.
B
B
Chevallier
Service de pédopsychiatrie, centre hospitalier de Versailles, 78150 Le Chesnay, France; Inserm U669, université Paris-Sud and université Paris Descartes, 75679 Paris, France; EA 4047, université Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, 78000 Versailles, France.
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M
Speranza
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires