@article{ref1,
title="Mental health presentations to the paediatric emergency department: A retrospective study",
journal="Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health",
year="2021",
author="Say, Daniela F. and Carison, Anna and Hill, Ashley and Hiscock, Harriet and Babl, Franz E. and O'Donnell, Sinead M.",
volume="57",
number="5",
pages="684-695",
abstract="AIM: To describe a cohort of patients aged 7-17 years presenting with mental health (MH) problems to an Australian tertiary paediatric emergency department (ED), in order to identify: (i) predictors of admission; and (ii) prolonged length of stay (LOS); (iii) reasons for ED presentation based on diagnosis and (iv) differences between major diagnostic groups. METHODS: Data for all presentations from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018 were extracted and analysed from the hospital's electronic medical record system. MH presentations were identified though rule-based coding and manual file review. RESULTS: In this 12-month period, 1071 children had 1690 emergency MH presentations constituting 6.7% of all ED presentations for children aged 7-17 years. Collectively, the leading cause for presentations was suicidal ideation, self-harm or drug overdose (55%). Compared to discharged patients, admitted patients were more likely to be female (odds ratio (OR) 1.82, confidence interval (CI) 1.41-2.35), aged over 14-years (OR 2.50, CI 1.98-3.15), triaged with high acuity (OR 2.70, CI 2.00-3.65) and arrive by ambulance or police (OR 1.31, CI 1.04-1.64). The highest risk diagnosis associated with admission was eating disorders (OR 9.19, CI 5.48-15.40). Patients with a prolonged LOS (>8 h) were more likely to need admission (OR 5.38, CI 3.81-7.61) and be diagnosed with drug overdose (OR 2.39, CI 1.51-3.80) or acute behavioural disturbance (OR 1.61, CI 1.09-2.39). CONCLUSION: Mental health presentations constitute a large proportion of ED presentations. Suicidal behaviour and self-harm account for half of them. We have identified patients at increased risk of admission and prolonged ED LOS.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1034-4810",
doi="10.1111/jpc.15313",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jpc.15313"
}