Evaluation of Psychiatric Consultations Requested from Pediatric Clinics During the COVID-19 Pandemic

We aimed to assess the characteristics of children and adolescents who presented to pediatric clinics and required psychiatric consultation during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This descriptive study employed data derived from a retrospective analysis of medical records for 264 patients under 18 years old who were referred to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department upon their presentation to the Pediatric Emergency and General Pediatric Clinics of Mersin University Hospital between March 11, 2020, and May 5, 2023. Psychiatric disorders were determined according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 criteria. The median age of the patients surveyed was 15 years (interquartile range: 12-16), with 168 (63.6%) identifying as female. Among the total, 48 patients (18.2%) were young children (under 10 years), whereas 216 patients (81.8%) were adolescents (10 18 years). The predominant cause for consultation among children was behavioral issues (52.1%), whereas for adolescents, it was suicide attempts (42.1%). Of the young child cases, 29.2% exhibited no significant psychopathology, whereas 70.8% were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in young children (25%), followed by generalized anxiety disorder (8.3%) and tic disorder (8.3%). Among the adolescent cohort, 6% exhibited no major psychopathology, whereas 94% received a diagnosis of at least one psychiatric disorder. Major depressive disorder was the most prevalent psychiatric diagnosis in adolescents (39.8%), followed by somatic symptom disorder (8.3%). Anxious mood was observed in 43.7% of young children, whereas 26.8% of adolescents displayed depressive mood. A total of 71.2% of patients received prescriptions for psychotropic medication (39.6% of young children and 78.2% of adolescents). This study, conducted in the fifth year of the pandemic, reviews the impact of COVID-19 on young children's and adolescents’ mental health. It aims to enhance the awareness and knowledge of pediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and policymakers in our country regarding this issue.