Performance of Screening Tools for Mental Health Problems in Chronically Ill Children-Reply

Background and Hypothesis: It has been observed that patients with poor mental health are relatively frequent users of the Emergency Departments (ED). The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of numerous behavioral health domains (depression, anxiety, PTSD, substance abuse, and suicidality) in patients presenting to the Emergency Department and the association of each of these domains with ED utilization. Experimental Design or Project Methods: This prospective study seeks to enroll a convenience sample of 1000 Englishspeaking adults presenting to IU Health Methodist and Eskenazi Emergency Departments without psychiatric chief-complaints. Patients were assessed for behavioral health problems using the CAT-MHTM, PHQ-8 and GAD-7 screening tools, which were administered via tablet device. Additionally, data on disposition medical history, discharge diagnoses, and ED utilization in the 12 months before and after enrollment from electronic medical records and data from the Indiana Network for Patient Care (INPC) will be reviewed. Results: Over the course of five weeks, 375 patients have been enrolled. Of those 59.4% were female with an overall mean age of 46.1 (SD ± 16.4); 52.9% were white and 39.8% black/African American. Among enrollees 42.2% screened positive for depression, 29.7% for anxiety, and 1.3% for suicidal ideation. Patients who screened positive for depression were predominately females (76.1% vs 23.9%), those who screened positive for anxiety were also predominately females (71.6% vs. 28.4%). However, 3 out of the 5 (60%) patients that screened positive for suicidal ideation were males. The preliminary analysis of GAD-7 showed of those enrolled 215 (57.5%) had no anxiety, 157 (42%) had mild-severe anxiety. PHQ-8 scores showed 194 (51.9%) had no depression, 178 (47.5%) had mild-severe depression. Similarly, CAT-MH results showed 216 (57.8%) had no depression, 158 (42.2%) had mild-severe depression, while 263 (70.3%) had no anxiety and 111 (29.7%) had mild-severe anxiety. Full data analysis including comparative analysis of the CAT-MH with PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scores will take place after 1000 patients have been enrolled and data has been received from the INPC. Conclusion and Potential Impact: In our sample, almost half of patients that visit the ED have screened positive for mental health problems. We believe that early identification and appropriate referral may reduce inappropriate ED utilization.

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Using the CES-D-7 as a Screening Instrument to Detect Major Depression among the Inmate Population

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031361 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1361

Author(s):

Joel Juarros-Basterretxea ◽

Paula Escoda-Menéndez ◽

Manuel Vilariño ◽

Francisco Javier Rodríguez-Díaz ◽

Juan Herrero

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Major Depression ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Rapid Assessment ◽

Health Problems ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Good Sensitivity ◽

Inmate Population ◽

Brief Assessment ◽

Male Inmates

Major depression is one of the most prevalent mental health problems in the penitentiary context and has been related to different undesirable outcomes. The aim of the current research was to evaluate the utility of screening tools for major depression brief assessment in the jail context. We interviewed 203 male inmates and complimented the MCMI-III, the SCL-90-R, and the CES-D-7 self-informed scales. Major depression syndrome and disorder were determined based on MCMI-III criteria and the capability of SCL-90-R and CES-D-7 to identify true positives and true negatives when tested. SCL-90-R and CES-D-7 showed good sensitivity for major depression syndrome and disorder. The specificity of SCL-90-R was poor in all cases, but CES-D-7 showed good specificity depending on the cut-off score. Rigorous interviews are needed for better evaluation of major depression in jails, but screening tools like CES-D-7 are useful for rapid assessment considering the work overload of penitentiary psychologists.

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Gambling-Like Day Trading During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Need for Research on a Pandemic-Related Risk of Indebtedness and Mental Health Impact

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.715946 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Anders Håkansson ◽

Fernando Fernández-Aranda ◽

Susana Jiménez-Murcia

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Problem Gambling ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Longitudinal Research ◽

Stock Exchange ◽

Health Problems ◽

Poor Mental Health ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Online Gambling ◽

Day Trading

Stock exchange trading increasingly has been highlighted as a possible cause of gambling disorder, typically in rapid and excessive “day trading” which may cause over-indebtedness and mental health problems. The COVID-19 pandemic has been suspected to increase online gambling and gambling problems. In a number of recent media reports, day trading has been reported to increase during COVID-19, possibly in relation to changes in everyday life, financial problems and job insecurity during the pandemic. Increasing day trading has thereby been suspected to cause addictive behavior, financial difficulties, and poor mental health. However, there is hitherto a lack of research in the area. The present paper addresses the potential for day trading to cause problem gambling, debts and mental health problems, and calls for research and clinical guidelines in problem gambling related to stock market behavior as a problematic gambling behavior. Screening tools, awareness among clinicians, and longitudinal research studies may be warranted, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

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Screening for abuse and mental health problems among illiterate runaway adolescents in an Indian metropolis

Archives of Disease in Childhood ◽

10.1136/archdischild-2011-301603 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 97 (11) ◽

pp. 947-951 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Deepti Pagare Bhat ◽

Meghachandra Singh ◽

Gajendra Singh Meena

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Sexual Abuse ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Mental Health Disorders ◽

Health Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Screening Tools ◽

New Delhi ◽

Health Disorders ◽

Physical And Sexual Abuse

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse, and their relation to mental health problems among the illiterate/semiliterate runaway adolescents in New Delhi, India.DesignCross sectional.SettingNew Delhi, India.PatientsRunaway adolescent boys (n=119) aged 11 to 18 years at an observation home.MethodsStudy subjects were screened for physical and sexual abuse using the Child Maltreatment History Self Report and Finkelhor's sexual abuse scale. Mental health problems were identified using the Achenbach's Youth Self-Report scale. As the participants were illiterate or semiliterate with Hindi being their primary language, the screening tools were appropriately translated, read out to them and their responses recorded.ResultsA total of 72 (62%) boys experienced domestic violence, 70 (59%) had engaged in substance abuse and 103 (87%) boys had been employed as child labourers. Physical abuse was reported by 86 (72%) and sexual abuse by 42 (35%). Mental health problems were recognised in 83 (70%) boys, which included internalising syndromes (59%) and externalising syndromes (34%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that physical abuse was an independent predictor of internalising syndromes (OR: 3.3; 95% CI 1.2 to 9.1; p<0.01), while substance abuse and sexual abuse were independent predictors of externalising syndromes.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that childhood abuse and mental health disorders are widely prevalent among the runaway adolescents evaluated at an observation home in New Delhi. Appropriate modification of the standardised self-report screening tools may allow the identification of mental health disorders in this vulnerable illiterate/semiliterate population.

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Mental Health Assessment of the Frequent Visitors in the School Setting—Part 1: An Overview

NASN School Nurse ◽

10.1177/1942602x21996442 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1942602X2199644

Author(s):

Tracy Perron ◽

Tami Jakubowski ◽

Cathy Razzi ◽

Connie Kartoz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

School Setting ◽

Health Assessment ◽

Signs And Symptoms ◽

Health Problems ◽

School Nurses ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Therapeutic Interventions ◽

Mental Health Assessment

School nurses manage children with mental health problems on a routine basis. However, many school nurses report having had limited to no training in assessment, recognizing signs and symptoms, or therapeutic interventions for mental health problems in children in their educational programs. This article is Part 1 of a two-part series. Part 1 will provide a background of common mental health conditions, common symptoms, underlying complaints, along with helpful resources for multiple audiences. Part 2 will continue with a focus on mental health assessment in the school setting, including the use of screening tools with a review of the most common medications prescribed for youth with anxiety and depression.

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Symptoms of Autism, Comorbid Mental Health Conditions and Challenging Behaviors among Toddlers with Down Syndrome at Low Risk for ASD—Characterization Using the BISCUIT—Parts 1–3

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182010684 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (20) ◽

pp. 10684

Author(s):

Ewa Pisula ◽

Alicja Niedźwiecka

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Down Syndrome ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Challenging Behaviors ◽

Health Problems ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Repetitive Behaviors ◽

Low Risk ◽

Screening Tools ◽

Children With Asd

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may coexist with Down syndrome (DS). Most studies on this topic involve school-age children, adolescents, or adults with DS. This study looked at ASD symptoms, other mental health problems, and challenging behaviors in toddlers with DS at low risk of ASD. Methods: We used screening tools for autism in toddlers; BISCUIT–Parts 1–3 and Q-CHAT. We compared four groups of children aged 17–37 months: DS, ASD, Atypical Development (AD), and Typically Developing (TD). Results: Children with DS showed lower symptoms of ASD than children with ASD (without DS) and higher than TD children, except for repetitive behaviors/restricted interests. For comorbid mental health problems and difficult behaviors, children with DS scored lower than children with ASD. There were no differences between children with DS and TD children in this regard. Conclusions: The study results indicate that BISCUIT–Parts 1–3 are valid instruments to differentiate toddlers with DS from toddlers with ASD. However, they also show that toddlers with DS at low ASD risk are a very heterogeneous group when the ASD symptoms are considered. Autistic characteristics should be taken into account in supporting young children with this genetic condition.

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