Citation

Anixt JS, Copeland-Linder N, Haynie D, Cheng TL. Acad. Pediatr. 2012; 12(2): 125-130.

Affiliation

Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio (Dr Anixt); Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md (Dr Copeland-Linder and Dr Cheng); National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Md (Dr Haynie).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Academic Pediatric Association, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.acap.2011.10.001

PMID

22112395

PMCID

PMC3307901

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine if there is a gap between behavioral symptoms and previously recognized mental health conditions in youth victims of peer assault injuries and to describe gender differences in psychological symptoms. METHODS: A cross-sectional comparison of rates of previously diagnosed mental health conditions and clinical range behavioral symptoms as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) in 168 youths (range, 10-15 years old) presenting to the emergency department (ED) after an interpersonal assault injury. The Fisher exact test was used for comparisons. RESULTS: Mental health symptoms were common among assault-injured youths. More than half of the youths demonstrating clinical range symptoms on the attention problems or anxious/depressed scales of the CBCL had no prior diagnosis of these conditions. Girls were more likely than boys to exhibit clinical range aggressive behavior symptoms (odds ratio [OR], 3.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64-7.97). Aggressive behavior was associated with clinical range scores on the other problem scales of the CBCL. CONCLUSIONS: After an ED visit for an assault-related injury, less than half of 10 to 15 year olds with significant symptoms of common mental conditions reported having a previously diagnosed disorder, reflecting a burden of unmet psychological needs. An ED visit for an assault injury provides an opportunity to screen for emotional/behavioral symptoms and to refer to appropriate follow-up mental health care.

Language: en