Am J Psychiatry 1987; 144:432-436
Copyright © 1987 by American Psychiatric Association
A retrospective study of adolescents' visits to a general hospital psychiatric emergency service
JR Hillard, M Slomowitz and LS Levi
Characteristics of 100 visits by adolescents (less than 18 years old) to a
psychiatric emergency service were examined and compared with those of 100
visits by adults. Adolescents were less likely than adults to receive
diagnoses of psychosis and personality disorder but more likely to receive
diagnoses of adjustment and conduct disorders, were less likely to have had
previous psychiatric treatment but equally likely (40%) to be in current
treatment, and required more time to evaluate. Self-destructive ideation or
behavior was present in 40% of the adolescents. Nearly all visits were
judged to have represented genuine emergencies.
