Dolan Margaret A, Mace Sharon E
Pediatrics. 2006 Oct;118(4):1764-7. doi: 10.1542/peds.2006-1925.
Emergency departments are vital in the management of pediatric patients with mental health emergencies. Pediatric mental health emergencies are an increasing part of emergency medical practice because emergency departments have become the safety net for a fragmented mental health infrastructure that is experiencing critical shortages in services in all sectors. Emergency departments must safely, humanely, and in a culturally and developmentally appropriate manner manage pediatric patients with undiagnosed and known mental illnesses, including those with mental retardation, autistic spectrum disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and those experiencing a behavioral crisis. Emergency departments also manage patients with suicidal ideation, depression, escalating aggression, substance abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, and maltreatment and those exposed to violence and unexpected deaths. Emergency departments must address not only the physical but also the mental health needs of patients during and after mass-casualty incidents and disasters. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Emergency Physicians support advocacy for increased mental health resources, including improved pediatric mental health tools for the emergency department, increased mental health insurance coverage, and adequate reimbursement at all levels; acknowledgment of the importance of the child's medical home; and promotion of education and research for mental health emergencies.
急诊科在处理患有心理健康紧急情况的儿科患者方面至关重要。儿科心理健康紧急情况在急诊医疗实践中所占比例日益增加，因为急诊科已成为精神卫生基础设施碎片化的安全网，而该基础设施在各个部门都面临着严重的服务短缺。急诊科必须以安全、人道且符合文化和发育特点的方式，管理患有未确诊和已知精神疾病的儿科患者，包括患有智力障碍、自闭症谱系障碍、注意力缺陷多动障碍的患者以及处于行为危机中的患者。急诊科还管理有自杀意念、抑郁症、攻击性升级、药物滥用、创伤后应激障碍、虐待以及遭受暴力和意外死亡的患者。在大规模伤亡事件和灾难期间及之后，急诊科不仅必须满足患者的身体需求，还必须满足其心理健康需求。美国儿科学会和美国急诊医师学会支持倡导增加心理健康资源，包括改进急诊科的儿科心理健康工具、增加心理健康保险覆盖范围以及各级的充分报销；承认儿童医疗之家的重要性；以及促进针对心理健康紧急情况的教育和研究。
