Psychiatric consultations for 112 pediatric inpatients

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Pediatric Consultation Liaison Psychiatry

Background:

• Pediatric services frequently encounter patients with psychiatric comorbidities.
• Understanding the scope of psychiatric issues in pediatric settings is crucial for integrated care.

Observation:

• A study of 112 pediatric consultations identified presenting psychiatric problems, mental status, diagnoses, and recommendations.
• Girls constituted 59% of the sample.
• Unexplained physical symptoms were the most common presenting issues.

Findings:

• 82% of patients received a psychiatric diagnosis, most commonly a "reactive" disorder.
• Seizure disorder and diabetes were frequent physical diagnoses.
• Psychiatric recommendations were made for 42 patients, with 23 known to have followed through.

Implications:

• Primary care physicians can manage many psychiatric recommendations, improving access to care.
• Integrated care models enhance the identification and management of psychiatric conditions in children.
• Further research can explore the long-term outcomes of psychiatric interventions in pediatric populations.