Best practices in managing child and adolescent behavioral health emergencies

Pediatr Emerg Med Pract. 2018 Jan;15(1):1-28. Epub 2018 Jan 1.

Abstract

Behavioral health emergencies most commonly present as depression, suicidal behavior, aggression, and severe disorganization. Emergency clinicians should avoid relying solely on past medical history or previous psychiatric diagnoses that might prematurely rule out medical pathologies. Treatments for behavioral health emergencies consist of de-escalation interventions aimed at preventing agitation, aggression, and harm. This issue reviews medical pathologies and underlying causes that can result in psychiatric presentations and summarizes evidence-based practices to evaluate, manage, and refer patients with behavioral health emergencies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Emergencies
  • Emergency Services, Psychiatric / methods*
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic