Related Experiment Videos
Risk factors for presenting problems in child psychiatric emergencies
B S Peterson1, H Zhang, R Santa Lucia
1Yale Child Study Center, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. bradley.peterson@yale.edu
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|September 1, 1996
Summary
Child psychiatric emergencies are linked to age, sex, and school schedules. Hospitalization may prevent future suicidality in at-risk youth.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Psychiatric emergencies in children present unique challenges in urban settings.
- Understanding demographic and school-related risk factors is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify demographic and school-related risk factors for psychiatric emergencies in children.
- To analyze predictors of hospitalization for pediatric psychiatric emergencies.
Main Methods:
- A 10-year retrospective analysis of 1,436 psychiatric emergency room visits for children under 16.
- Logistic regression modeled associations between presenting problems (suicidality, aggression, defiance) and risk factors (age, sex, minority status, school day/season).
Main Results:
- Suicidality associated with older age, female sex, weekdays, and school year. Suicide attempts further linked to minority status.
- Aggression/defiance linked to younger age, male sex; aggression more on weekends, defiance during vacations.
- Hospitalization predicted by suicidal/aggressive presentation, older age, and school year presentation. Early hospitalization reduced subsequent suicidality.
Conclusions:
- Findings align with known risk factors for suicidal behaviors and externalizing disorders.
- Distinct risk profiles suggest specificity for different psychiatric presentations.
- Home and school environments play variable roles; hospitalization may prevent future suicidality.