Children and adolescents with severe acute behavioural disturbance in the emergency department

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Mental health (MH) presentations to ED are increasing in children and adolescents. Little is known about patients with severe acute behavioural disturbance (ABD). We set out to describe patients with ABD severe enough to trigger an acute crisis team response in ED (termed 'Code Grey') and how they differ from other MH patients. METHODS: Retrospective electronic medical record review of all ED patients with MH discharge codes at a tertiary children's hospital. We assessed the epidemiology and management of patients who triggered acute crisis team interventions (Code Grey) as proxy for severe ABD. We calculated the odds ratios (ORs with 95% confidence intervals) of key demographic f..