Pediatric Mental Health Hospitalizations at US Acute Care Hospitals
Journal
JAMA
Journal Volume
330
Journal Issue
5
Pages
473
Date Issued
2023-08-01
Author(s)
Chien, Yin-Hsuan
Abstract
To the Editor A recent study1 on the increase in pediatric mental health hospitalizations from 2009 to 2019 used the Kids’ Inpatient Database, which provides inpatient data. However, over this time period, nonpsychiatric hospitals included in the 3-year-block reports increased in number while the total pediatric hospitalizations decreased. Additionally, the number of hospitalizations was not adjusted for hospital bed number, Medicaid coverage, repeat hospital admissions, and the pediatric population in the given years.Attitudes about mental health diagnoses confound the diagnosis of bipolar disorder among children and adolescents. Using a national data set of inpatient hospitalizations in the US, population-adjusted rates of bipolar disorder increased from 1996 to 2004 and then decreased until 2010 for children and adolescents.2 This trend coincided with recommended conservative diagnostic practices due to concerns about overdiagnosis of bipolar disorder and potential adverse effects of medications used to treat bipolar disorder in youths. In contrast to this study,1 which reported a decrease in hospitalizations for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) from 2009 to 2019, the US National Health Interview Survey showed an increase in the prevalence of ADHD from 8.5% to 9.5% from 2009 to 2017 in children aged 3 to 17 years.3 Furthermore, it is important to consider the use of outpatient mental health services among adolescents, as it is relevant to the trend of hospitalizations. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, among 19.7% of adolescent participants aged 12 to 17 years who received mental health care, the use of outpatient mental health services increased from 58.1% in 2005-2006 to 67.3% in 2017-2018.4Additionally, COVID-19 caused unemployment, social distancing, and economic changes within households, leading to increased depression and anxiety, which affected younger individuals more than older people.5 Therefore, the results of this study1 might not be generalizable during or after the COVID-19 pandemic.
SDGs
Type
journal article