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Psychiatric emergencies in adolescents.
Gail A Edelsohn1, John-Paul Gomez
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Thomas Jefferson University, 833 Chestnut Street, Suite 210-D, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Gail.Edelsohn@jefferson.edu
Adolescent Medicine Clinics
|February 14, 2006
Summary
This article reviews juvenile psychiatric emergencies, emphasizing an urgency framework for better triage, assessment, and intervention. Understanding urgency improves care and future service access for adolescents in crisis.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Background:
- Adolescent psychiatric emergencies present a wide spectrum of conditions.
- Effective management requires a structured approach to urgency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the epidemiology and risk factors of juvenile psychiatric emergencies.
- To outline critical elements for emergency evaluation and treatment.
- To discuss factors influencing presentation, disposition, and resource utilization.
Main Methods:
- Review of literature on adolescent psychiatric emergencies.
- Framework analysis of urgency in emergency department (ED) settings.
- Discussion of epidemiological data and risk factors.
Main Results:
- An urgency framework aids ED physicians in triaging and tailoring patient care.
- Understanding urgency enhances clinical assessment and reduces frustration.
- Appropriate assessment and intervention improve future service access for adolescent patients.
Conclusions:
- A framework based on urgency is crucial for managing adolescent psychiatric emergencies.
- This approach optimizes evaluation, intervention, and disposition in the ED.
- Consideration of local resources is vital for effective patient management.
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