Mental/Behavioral Health Assessment and the Office Visit
Because a majority of adolescents visit their primary care provider/pediatrician at least once a year, these visits are an ideal time to integrate a mental and behavioral health assessment. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released new recommendations to administer a mental health checkup or mental health screening for adolescents at each visit. Further, according to TeenScreen.org, more than 35 health organizations support voluntary mental health assessments for youth.

Identification of Mental Health Concerns
Utilizing a valid and reliable self-assessment (such as the TeenScreen (PSC-Y)), physicians and their staff may readily conduct enhanced screening which allows for consistent detection and monitoring of mental, behavioral and chronic conditions. Moving beyond depression screening, the PSC-Y identifies 3 major categories of issues (internalizing, attention, and externalizing problems), along with questions about suicide. Using trigger logic in the Electronic Interview customizes the depth of information obtained by the practice or external agencies. Quantifying issues that may be difficult to discuss, helps to relieve embarrassment and builds provider-patient rapport.

For older teens (16+) offices may choose to implement the Quick PsychoDiagnostics Panel (QPD) for more in-depth assessment. Based on the DSM-IV, the QPD Panel was designed for medical professionals to quickly and comprehensively assess nine common psychiatric disorders: major depression, dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bulimia nervosa, alcohol/substance abuse, and somatization disorder. It also screens for suicide risk and domestic abuse. Physicians receive a chart-ready report with a familiar look and feel, resembling a standard blood chemistries report. The report provides 1) numeric scores indicating the severity of symptoms, 2) DSM-IV diagnosis codes, and 3) a list of symptoms leading to the diagnosis.

View a diagram of how the Patient Tools Assessment system works.

Prevention and Treatment
The same as pre-school children, when positive cases are detected and confirmed, the practice's typical procedures for more in-depth assessment or follow-up treatment should be used or implement an innovative Integrated or Collaborative Care Model.

Suicidal Ideation and Risk
Suicidal ideation and depression may manifest themselves in adolescence. According to TeenScreen.org approximately 2 million young people experience at lease one major depressive episode in a year. The majority of those episodes do not receive treatment. Of the adolescents who attempt or commit suicide the majority exhibit psychiatric symptoms for more than one year before their deaths. By screening for suicidiality at the well visit or checkup, medical professionals will ultimately save adolescent lives.

Expand Screening for Behavioral Health and Quality-of-Life (QOL)
Teenagers are faced with a variety of choices everyday. Screening for behavioral health and quality-of-life choices, allows the pediatrician/physicians office to help the teen manage/select healthier life choices. Smoking, dietary habits, drug/alcohol use, sexuality, ADHD, and Internet/technology use all may impact adolescent health. Using screening tools such as the Student Health Questionnaire (SBHC) or other home-safety QOL assessments identifies areas of risk. When risky life choices are identified offices may choose to automatically print out educational, community or referral resources to support the teen (and their family) to make healthier choices.

Please contact us to learn more or discuss how Adolescent Mental Health assessment will work in your setting.