Screening to identify groups of pediatric emergency department patients using latent class analysis of reported suicidal ideation and behavior and non-suicidal self-injury.

Latent class analysis of medical records data from 3,523 emergency department (ED) patients (ages 14–24; 31% Caucasian; 67% female) distinguished 6 groups with varying histories of suicidal ideation and behavior based on items endorsed on the Behavioral Health Screen, a web based, nurse-initiated screening tool. As expected, the more severe suicidality groups reported higher levels of depressive symptoms, traumatic distress, and substance abuse symptoms. Findings support the validity of the BHS and its utility as a medical decision tool to help ED staff evaluate the severity of patients’ suicidality.