Sarah Horwitz, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Public Health (Health Policy) and Associate Professor in the Child Study CenterCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Mental Health Screening and Referrals for Unaccompanied Migrant Youths at Pediatric Intake Visits
Vega Potler N, Pineda L, Nagin P, Villegas S, Hackley B, Wagner S, Magan M, Shapiro A, Horwitz S. Mental Health Screening and Referrals for Unaccompanied Migrant Youths at Pediatric Intake Visits. Academic Pediatrics 2025, 103119. PMID: 40789367, DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2025.103119.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMental health referralsMental health screeningHealth referralsHealth screeningIntake visitCharacteristics associated with referralRates of screeningMental health servicesMental health symptomsRetrospective cohort dataHealth servicesSociodemographic characteristicsHealth symptomsCohort dataProgram registryReferralLogistic regressionMedical chartsIndigenous youthChi-squareT-testVisitsTraumatic experiencesYouthClinical rationaleChange in Pediatric Psychiatric Emergency Service Clinicians’ Confidence After Training to Improve Care for Autistic Youth At-Risk for Suicide: A Pilot Study
Cervantes P, Seag D, Baroni A, Horwitz S. Change in Pediatric Psychiatric Emergency Service Clinicians’ Confidence After Training to Improve Care for Autistic Youth At-Risk for Suicide: A Pilot Study. Journal Of Developmental And Physical Disabilities 2025, 1-11. DOI: 10.1007/s10882-025-10025-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchSuicide-related careAutistic youthSystems-level barriersAreas of suicide risk assessmentSuicide risk assessment toolsSuicide risk assessmentClinician confidencePsychiatric emergency serviceEmergency departmentPilot studyYouth At-RiskSuicidal ideationSuicide riskEndorsement patternsPsychiatric concernsRisk assessment toolRatings of feasibilityLevel of trainingSuicideAttitude itemsTargeted trainingElevated ratesAssessment toolEmergency servicesClinical guidancePerformance of an Electronic Universal Mental Health Screening Tool in Pediatric Emergency Departments
Horwitz S, Seag D, Cervantes P, Gerson R, Baroni A, Guo F, Wiener E, Tay E, Ort K, Gibbons R. Performance of an Electronic Universal Mental Health Screening Tool in Pediatric Emergency Departments. Pediatric Emergency Care 2025, 41: 695-701. PMID: 40275761, DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000003404.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPediatric emergency departmentMH problemsMental healthEmergency departmentMental health screening toolsHealth screening toolsChart review dataIdentification of suicidal ideationRates of depressionRetrospective chart review dataRates of suicideEligible youthPsychiatric complaintsSignificant anxietyUS youthFisher's exact testScreening toolDifficult behaviorsSuicide riskMedical concernsProfessional organizationsRoutine screeningObservational studySuicidal ideationSuicide identificationAddressing Suicide Risk in Autistic Youth: A Preliminary Study of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician Attitudes
Cervantes P, Richards-Rachlin S, Seag D, Conlon G, Donnelly L, Lee M, Shalev R, Tay E, Knapp K, Wiener E, Baroni A, Horwitz S. Addressing Suicide Risk in Autistic Youth: A Preliminary Study of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Physician Attitudes. Journal Of Developmental And Physical Disabilities 2025, 1-12. DOI: 10.1007/s10882-025-10006-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEmergency departmentSuicide-related careAutistic youthManaging suicide riskPediatric emergency medicineSuicide riskEmergency department providersSuicide risk identificationNon-autistic youthSuicide prevention practicesSuicide risk assessmentPhysicians' attitudesPhysician trainingEmergency medicinePrevention practicesPsychiatric concernsYouth suicideSuicidal thoughtsPatient populationProvidersPhysiciansConfidenceSuicideYouthTraining
2024
Mental Health Service Referral and Treatment Following Screening and Assessment in Juvenile Detention.
Tedeschi F, Horwitz S, Surko M, Weinberger E, Bart A, Baetz C, Guo F, Alexander A, Havens J. Mental Health Service Referral and Treatment Following Screening and Assessment in Juvenile Detention. The Journal Of The American Academy Of Psychiatry And The Law 2024, 52: 460-469. PMID: 39393913, DOI: 10.29158/jaapl.240082-24.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderDSM-5 diagnosisMental health screeningDSM-5Prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderRates of mental health disordersPosttraumatic stress disorderProblematic substance useMental health disordersMental health service referralJuvenile detention facilitiesStress disorderAttention-deficit/hyperactivityDetained youthSubstance useNeurodevelopmental disordersHealth disordersJuvenile detentionDetention facilitiesEvaluate youthHealth screeningDisordersEmotional concernsAvailability of servicesService referralsAn Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Intervention in Secure Juvenile Detention: The Impact on Youth-Level Incidents of Violence
Baetz C, Surko M, Guo F, Marr M, Workman S, Havens J, Horwitz S. An Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Intervention in Secure Juvenile Detention: The Impact on Youth-Level Incidents of Violence. Criminal Justice And Behavior 2024, 52: 716-733. DOI: 10.1177/00938548241297281.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchJustice-related outcomesJuvenile justice settingsIncidence of violenceTrauma-informed interventionsTrauma-specific interventionsJustice settingsJuvenile detentionDetention facilitiesReduce violenceBlack youthVulnerable youthTrauma-informedDetentionSkill groupsViolencePre-skillsYouthStaff trainingStaff membersAssaultStaffTrauma trainingGroup cohortsInterventionJuveniles1.21 Characteristics Associated With Higher Psychiatric Distress Among Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth
Potler N, Nagin P, Pineda L, Villegas S, Wagner S, Magan M, Hackley B, Shapiro A, Horwitz S. 1.21 Characteristics Associated With Higher Psychiatric Distress Among Unaccompanied Immigrant Youth. Journal Of The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2024, 63: s164-s165. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2024.08.041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImproving Emergency Department Care for Suicidality in Autism: Perspectives from Autistic Youth, Caregivers, and Clinicians
Cervantes P, Palinkas L, Conlon G, Richards-Rachlin S, Sullivan K, Baroni A, Horwitz S. Improving Emergency Department Care for Suicidality in Autism: Perspectives from Autistic Youth, Caregivers, and Clinicians. Journal Of Autism And Developmental Disorders 2024, 55: 2820-2833. PMID: 38819705, PMCID: PMC12296981, DOI: 10.1007/s10803-024-06364-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEmergency departmentSuicide risk assessment toolsEmergency department careSuicide risk screeningSuicide riskNon-autistic youthAutistic youthRisk assessment toolSemi-structured interviewsED careImprove careProviding careED settingRisk screeningFamily involvementParticipants' perspectivesCareSelf-harmAssessment toolSystem issuesAutistic patientsDevelopment of recommendationsPilot studyCaregiversSuicidal ideationImplementation Barriers Encountered During a Universal Suicide Screening Program in Pediatric Emergency Departments
Seag D, Cervantes P, Narcisse I, Wiener E, Tay E, Knapp K, Horwitz S. Implementation Barriers Encountered During a Universal Suicide Screening Program in Pediatric Emergency Departments. Pediatric Emergency Care 2024, 40: 731-735. PMID: 38748454, PMCID: PMC11560740, DOI: 10.1097/pec.0000000000003221.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPediatric emergency departmentResearch assistantsComputerized adaptive testingUniversal suicide risk screeningWorkflow issuesEmergency departmentManagement of suicidal behaviorStudy assessed barriersQuality improvement initiativesSuicide risk screeningSuicide screening programsThematic content analysisScreening barriersClinical staffImprovement initiativesImplementation barriersPhysician educationClinical protocolsRisk screeningScreening programLimited integrationAdaptive testingContent analysisScreening effortsScreeningPerspectives from the Autism Community on the Potential Utility of a Novel Measure of Suicide Risk and Mental Health Symptoms for Autistic Youth: A Pilot Study
Cervantes P, Gibbons R, Palinkas L, Conlon G, Horwitz S. Perspectives from the Autism Community on the Potential Utility of a Novel Measure of Suicide Risk and Mental Health Symptoms for Autistic Youth: A Pilot Study. Journal Of Developmental And Physical Disabilities 2024, 37: 601-612. DOI: 10.1007/s10882-024-09963-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMental health symptomsAutistic youthHealth symptomsSuicide risk screening toolSuicide riskRisk screening toolMeasures of suicide riskExperience of suicidePilot studyMeasures of suicidalityAutism communityNon-autistic populationSpecialist cliniciansGeneral populationScreening toolEndorsed problemsCommunity membersAutistic individualsAdaptive testingAutismSuicideYouthPopulationRiskPilot
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