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Mental Health Screening of Adolescents in Pediatric Practice

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Abstract

This study examines routine computerized mental health screening for adolescents scheduled for a routine physical examination in a group pediatric practice. Medical records of adolescents aged 13 to 17 who were offered screening (n = 483) were reviewed. Approximately 44.7% (95% confidence interval (CI) 40.3–49.2) were screened, and 13.9% (95% CI 9.3–18.5) were identified as being at risk. Screening was associated with significantly increased odds of receiving either pediatric mental health care or a referral for specialty mental health care (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.6 95% CI 1.2–5.6). Among patients who received either mental health intervention, those who were screened were significantly more likely to be referred to specialty care (AOR: 15.9 95% CI 2.5–100.4), though they were less likely to receive pediatric mental health care (AOR: 0.10 95% CI 0.02–0.54). The findings support the feasibility of routine mental health screening in pediatric practice. Screening is acceptable to many parents and adolescents, and it is associated with referral for specialized mental health care rather than care from the pediatrician.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University and TeenScreen National Center for Mental Health Checkups at Columbia University, 1775 Broadway, Suite 610, New York, NY, 10019, USA

    Mathilde M. Husky PhD, Leslie McGuire MSW & Laurie Flynn BA

  2. Coordinator Care Management/Quality Improvement/Patient Education, Aurora Health Center Fond du Lac, 210 Wisconsin American Drive, Fond du Lac, WI, 54937, USA

    Kathleen Miller RN, BSN, CQM

  3. Columbia University, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive Box 24, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Mark Olfson MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Mathilde M. Husky PhD
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  2. Kathleen Miller RN, BSN, CQM
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  3. Leslie McGuire MSW
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  4. Laurie Flynn BA
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  5. Mark Olfson MD, MPH
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Mathilde M. Husky PhD, Kathleen Miller RN, BSN, CQM, Leslie McGuire MSW, Laurie Flynn BA or Mark Olfson MD, MPH.

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Husky, M.M., Miller, K., McGuire, L. et al. Mental Health Screening of Adolescents in Pediatric Practice. J Behav Health Serv Res 38, 159–169 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-009-9207-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-009-9207-x

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