Martin Sarah R, Heyming Theodore W, Fortier Michelle A, Salas Luis H, Huszti Heather C, Dennis Meredith L, Kain Zeev N
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Orange, CA, USA.
Center on Stress & Health, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
Pediatr Res. 2025 Jan 17. doi: 10.1038/s41390-025-03871-y.
This cross-sectional study examined depression and associated impairment in youth presenting to a pediatric emergency department (PED) with abdominal pain.
Participants were 11-17 years old, presenting to a PED with idiopathic abdominal pain. Participants completed demographics, pain, pain-related impairment, and depression surveys. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9A). Scores ≥10 met depression threshold and ≥1 on item 9 indicated self-harm ideation. Mean difference and logistic regression analyses were conducted.
Among 169 participants, 29.6% reported depression and 9.4% endorsed self-harm ideation. Depression was associated with Latinx ethnicity (X = 4.02, p = 0.045), higher pain intensity (Z = -3.09, p = 0.002), and higher pain-related impairment (Z = -4.86, p < 0.001). In regression analyses, pain-related impairment and Latinx ethnicity were independently associated with depression (OR = 3.89 [95%CI, 1.22-12.40]; OR = 1.13 [95%CI, 1.06-1.21]). Self-harm ideation was not associated with study variables.
Results highlight the need for enhanced mental health screening for youth presenting with idiopathic abdominal pain in the ED, particularly for Latinx youth. Early identification of depression and high pain-related impairment may inform interventions and improve outcomes.
Nearly 30% of youth, 11-17 years old, presenting to the ED with idiopathic abdominal pain screened positive for depression and 9.4% reported self-harm ideation. The higher likelihood of depression among Latinx youth experiencing pain emphasizes the importance of including diverse samples in future ED research to explore mechanisms contributing to poorer mental health in minoritized populations. Results highlight the need for enhanced mental health screening in youth presenting to the emergency department with idiopathic abdominal pain.
本横断面研究调查了因腹痛前往儿科急诊科（PED）就诊的青少年的抑郁情况及相关损害。
参与者年龄在11至17岁之间，因特发性腹痛前往儿科急诊科就诊。参与者完成了人口统计学、疼痛、疼痛相关损害和抑郁调查。使用患者健康问卷（PHQ - 9A）评估抑郁情况。得分≥10达到抑郁阈值，第9项得分≥1表明有自伤意念。进行了均值差异分析和逻辑回归分析。
在169名参与者中，29.6%报告有抑郁，9.4%认可有自伤意念。抑郁与拉丁裔种族（X = 4.02，p = 0.045）、更高的疼痛强度（Z = -3.09，p = 0.002）以及更高的疼痛相关损害（Z = -4.86，p < 0.001）相关。在回归分析中，疼痛相关损害和拉丁裔种族与抑郁独立相关（OR = 3.89 [95%CI，1.22 - 12.40]；OR = 1.13 [95%CI，1.06 - 1.21]）。自伤意念与研究变量无关。
结果凸显了对在急诊科因特发性腹痛就诊的青少年加强心理健康筛查的必要性，尤其是对拉丁裔青少年。早期识别抑郁和高疼痛相关损害可能为干预措施提供依据并改善结局。
近30%的11至17岁因特发性腹痛前往急诊科就诊的青少年抑郁筛查呈阳性，9.4%报告有自伤意念。经历疼痛的拉丁裔青少年中抑郁可能性更高，这强调了在未来急诊科研究中纳入多样化样本以探索导致少数族裔人群心理健康较差的机制的重要性。结果凸显了对因特发性腹痛前往急诊科就诊的青少年加强心理健康筛查的必要性。
