Paeds Vivas · mental-behavioural-and-psychosomatic
Emergency mental-health assessment and disposition — branching viva
Branching viva on classifying the emergency mental-health presentation on two independent axes, performing a structured suicide-risk assessment with a validated tool, synthesising a risk stratum, matching the level of care to risk, building a safety plan with means restriction, and managing boarding, intoxication and capacity.
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Study tools
Target exams
RACP General PaediatricsRACP DCEMRCPCH ClinicalRCPSC Pediatrics
Prompt
You are the paediatric registrar in the emergency department. The examiner moves from classification to the structured risk assessment, risk stratification and disposition, and then to the complications of intoxication, capacity and boarding.
Stem
The examiner will test whether you can classify an emergency mental-health presentation on two independent axes, run a structured risk assessment with a validated tool, synthesise a risk stratum, match the level of care to risk, and navigate intoxication, capacity and boarding. [1] [4]
References7ShowHide
- [1]Horowitz LM Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ): a brief instrument for the pediatric emergency department. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 2012.PMID 23027429
- [2]King CA Prospective Development and Validation of the Computerized Adaptive Screen for Suicidal Youth (CASSY). JAMA Psychiatry, 2021.PMID 33533908
- [3]Ballard ED Identification of At-Risk Youth by Suicide Screening in a Pediatric Emergency Department. Prev Sci, 2017.PMID 27678381
- [4]Asarnow JR The Emergency Department: Challenges and Opportunities for Suicide Prevention. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am, 2017.PMID 28916013
- [5]Knipe D Risk of suicide and repeat self-harm after hospital attendance for non-fatal self-harm in Sri Lanka: a cohort study. Lancet Psychiatry, 2019.PMID 31272912
- [6]McNamara S Suicide Risk in Children and Adolescents: Assessment and Management. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am, 2026.PMID 35015441
- [7]Chaudhary S Reducing firearm access for youth at risk for suicide in a pediatric emergency department. Front Public Health, 2024.PMID 38859900