Referral and resource use patterns for psychiatric-related visits to pediatric emergency departments.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the patterns of referral and use of resources for patients with psychiatric-related visits presenting to pediatric emergency departments (EDs) in a pediatric research network.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of a random sample of patients (approximately 10 charts per month per site) who presented with psychiatric-related visits in 2002 to 4 pediatric EDs in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network. Emergency department resource use variables evaluated included the use of consultation services, restraints, and laboratory tests as well as ED length of stay.
RESULTS: We reviewed 462 patient visits with a psychiatric-related ED diagnosis. Mean (SD) age was 12.8 (3.7) years, 52% were male, and 49% were African American. The most common chief complaints were suicidality (47%), aggression/agitation (42%), and anxiety/depression (27%), alone or in combination. Ninety percent of patients (range across sites, 83%-94%) had a mental health consult in the ED, 5% were restrained (range, 3%-9%), and 35% had a laboratory test performed (range, 15%-63%). Mean (SD) ED length of stay was 5.1 (5.4) hours, and 52% were admitted (93% to a psychiatric bed, including transfers to separate psychiatric facilities).
CONCLUSIONS: Children with psychiatric-related visits seem to require substantial ED resources. Interventions are needed to reduce the burden on the ED by increasing the linkage to mental health services, particularly for suicidal youths.