Citation

LeMasters K, Cox ME, Fliss M, Seibert J, Brown C, Proescholdbell S. Am. J. Emerg. Med. 2022; 57: 103-106.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ajem.2022.04.053

PMID

35550927

PMCID

PMC9727650

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mental health (MH) disorders comprise a high disease burden and have long-lasting impacts. To improve MH, it is important to define public health MH surveillance.

METHODS: We compared MH related definitions using ICD-10-CM codes: The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists' (CSTE) surveillance indicators for all MH, mood or depressive, schizophrenic, and drug/alcohol-induced disorders; and North Carolina's (NC) syndromic surveillance system's definition for anxiety/mood/psychotic disorders, and suicide/self-harm. We compared code definitions and frequent codes in 2019 emergency department (ED) data for those age ≥ 10 years.

RESULTS: CSTE's definition resulted in over one million MH-related visits (23% of all ED visits) and NC's definitions in 451,807 MH-related visits (9% of all ED visits). Using CSTE's broadest definition, nicotine use was the most common visit type; using NC's definitions, it was major depressive disorder.

CONCLUSIONS: Standardizing population-level MH indicators benefits surveillance efforts. Given its prevalence, efforts should focus on documenting MH to improve treatment and prevention.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Child; Surveillance; Epidemiology; International Classification of Diseases; Mental health; Emergency Service, Hospital; *Mental Health; *Depressive Disorder, Major; North Carolina/epidemiology