Focused Medical Assessment of Pediatric Behavioral Emergencies

Abstract

There is no uniformly accepted standard of care for medical clearance of pediatric patients with psychiatric complaints. Emerging data argue for a thorough history and physical examination and against routine laboratory testing. The differential diagnosis of patients presenting with psychiatric health complaints is extensive and includes both medical and psychiatric disorders. Providers should remain mindful of anchoring or diagnosis momentum bias when caring for these patients, especially patients with a psychiatric history.

Keywords: Adolescent psychiatry; Anchoring bias; Child psychiatry; Emergency; Medical clearance; Momentum bias; Psychiatric admission; Suicide.