Child-adolescent emergency psychiatry: addressing false positive admissions

Current literature emphasizes the necessary and increasing role of the emergency department (ED) psychologist. This perspective paper will illustrate that the recent focus on an ED psychologist is necessary, but insufficient. Equally important, is an understanding of when a patient in a potential crisis does not require an ED admission, but rather an assessment that is made prior to the patient going to the ED. The essential role of an outpatient crisis team is vital in differentiating when an ED admission is indicated for a psychiatric crisis (true positive) and when an ED admission is not indicated for a psychiatric crisis (false positive). Evaluating crises prior to ED admissions accomplishes two critical healthcare objectives in a parallel process: 1) accurately assessing the proper level of care needed when a patient reports they are experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms (which may or may not necessitate emergency department level of care, and 2) reducing burden on an already over-extended ED when emergency care is not indicated. Our findings are uniquely drawn from a highly diverse youth patient population in Northern California, United States.

The impact of COVID-19 on acute psychiatric admissions for first and repeated episode psychosis

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence of the longer-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute admissions for psychosis in the UK.

AIMS

We examined the impact of COVID-19 on rates of admissions for first and repeated episode psychosis, and changes in patient profile and seasonal patterns, over a period of 12 months.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective case note review of all patients admitted with a primary psychosis (F20-29 ICD 10 diagnosis) to an NHS psychiatric inpatient unit. We compared the 12 months pre-COVID-19 period between 1 March 2019 and 28 February 2020, and the 12 months post-COVID-19 period between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021.

RESULTS

The results showed increase rates of admissions post-COVID-19 in both first and repeated episode psychosis, the patient profile had more females and older age in the repeated episode group, with increased employment rates. Combined group data for both pre- and post-COVID-19 periods showed an increased trend in spring and summer admissions, and even though not statistically significant, more pronounced post-COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on acute psychosis admissions over a 12-month period. The results provide evidence for the 'stress-pathogenesis' in the context of genetic vulnerability in psychosis. Preventative strategies in the context of the 'stress-pathogenesis model', improved access to and responsiveness within NHS transformation efforts needs to be adjusted to fit local need and environmental changes.

Care provider allocation on admissions to acute mental health wards: The development and validation of the Admission Team Score List

Currently, support tools are lacking to prioritize steps in the care coordination process to enable safe practice and effective clinical pathways in the first phase of acute psychiatric admissions. This study describes the development, validity, and reliability of an acute care coordination support tool, the Admission Team Score List (ATSL). The ATSL assists in care provider allocation during admissions. Face validity and feasibility of the ATSL were tested in 77 acute admissions. Endscores of filled out ATSL's were translated to recommended team compositions. These ATSL team (ATSL-T) compositions were compared to the actually present team (AP-T) and the most preferred team (MP-T) composition in hindsight. Consistency between the ATSL-T and the MP-T was substantial; K_w  = 0.70, P < 0.001, 95% CI [0.55-0.84]. The consistency between the ATSL-T and AP-T was moderate; K_w  = 0.43, P < 0.001, 95% CI [0.23-0.62]. The ATSL has an adequate (inter-rater) reliability; ICC = 0.90, P < 0.001, 95% CI [0.65-0.91]. The ATSL study is an important step to promote safety and efficient care based on care provider allocation, for service users experiencing an acute admission. The ATSL may stimulate structured clinical decision-making during the hectic process around acute psychiatric admissions.

Prevalence of the catatonic syndrome in an acute inpatient sample

OBJECTIVE

In this exploratory open label study, we investigated the prevalence of catatonia in an acute psychiatric inpatient population. In addition, differences in symptom presentation of catatonia depending on the underlying psychiatric illness were investigated.

METHODS

One hundred thirty patients were assessed with the Bush-Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, the Young Mania Rating Scale, and the Simpson-Angus Scale. A factor analysis was conducted in order to generate six catatonic symptom clusters. Composite scores based on this principal component analysis were calculated.

RESULTS

When focusing on the first 14 items of the BFCRS, 101 patients (77.7%) had at least 1 symptom scoring 1 or higher, whereas, 66 patients (50.8%) had at least 2 symptoms. Interestingly, when focusing on the DSM-5 criteria of catatonia, 22 patients (16.9%) could be considered for this diagnosis. Furthermore, different symptom profiles were found, depending on the underlying psychopathology. Psychotic symptomatology correlated strongly with excitement symptomatology (r = 0.528, p < 0.001) and to a lesser degree with the stereotypy/mannerisms symptom cluster (r = 0.289; p = 0.001) and the echo/perseveration symptom cluster (r = 0.185; p = 0.035). Similarly, manic symptomatology correlated strongly with the excitement symptom cluster (r = 0.596; p < 0.001) and to a lesser extent with the stereotypy/mannerisms symptom cluster (r = 0.277; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

There was a high prevalence of catatonic symptomatology. Depending on the criteria being used, we noticed an important difference in exact prevalence, which makes it clear that we need clear-cut criteria. Another important finding is the fact that the catatonic presentation may vary depending on the underlying pathology, although an unambiguous delineation between these catatonic presentations cannot be made. Future research is needed to determine diagnostical criteria of catatonia, which are clinically relevant.

Catatonia incidence in acute psychiatric admissions

Eighty six consecutively admitted unmedicated patients, with a current duration of illness of less than two years, who fulfilled ICD-10 criteria for mood disorder or schizophrenia were assessed for catatonic signs over a three week study period Thirty two of them could be rated as catatonic, most of them starting to exhibit the signs at the time of admission or a few days thereafter. While the percentage of manic patients showing catatonic signs was comparable to earlier studies, a significant proportion of patients belonging to the Schizophrenic and Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorder group also exhibited these signs. The reasons for obtaining such a high percentage of catatonias are discussed. It is contended that short lasting catatonic signs are a common feature of acute psychiatric admissions and are ignored when viewed within the framework of an affective or psychotic illness.