Comparison of Outpatient and Inpatient Consultations Requested from Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to examine the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of child and adolescent psychiatry consultations and to compare characteristics of outpatient and inpatient consultations. Methods: A total of 354 patients who were consulted to child and adolescent psychiatry department of a university hospital were included in the study. Data were collected regarding sociodemographic characteristics of patients, departments requesting consultation, diagnoses, and treatment methods. Results: The cases included in the study had a mean age of 10.6±4.8 years,with 51.4% being girls. Adolescent girls formed the majority of the inpatient group. The pediatric neurology outpatient clinic had the highest frequency of requested consultations (22.3%), and the most common reason for consultation was a suicide attempt (12.1%). Of the cases for which consultation was requested, 67.8% were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder, and the most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders, with 12.7%. In the inpatient group, impulsive suicide attempts and depressive disorders were more frequent compared to the outpatient group, while intellectual disability was less common. Parent education was provided for 97.2% of the cases, pharmacological treatment was recommended for 44.6% of the cases, and the most commonly prescribed medications were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Psychotherapy and special education were significantly more common in the outpatient group compared to the inpatient treatment group. Conclusion: The current study revealed significant differences in consultations requested from child and adolescent psychiatry between the outpatient and inpatient groups regarding consultation reasons, diagnoses, and treatment modalities. The findings provide valuable information for clinical practice and service development.