In December 2022, The American College of Surgeons released a practice guidine discussing screening trauma patients for mental health disorders and substance use disorders. There is a very high likelihood that your acute trauma patient has a pre-existing disorder.
"Over 50% of hospitalized trauma patients report an alcohol and/or drug use diagnosis during their lifetime. At the time of admission, one in four trauma victims meet diagnostic criteria for an active alcohol use problem and 18% meet diagnostic criteria for a drug use problem".
Screening, Brief Intervention and Referal to Treatment (SBIRT) programs have a major impact on injury recidivism and future mortality. Trauma patients should be screened for mental health disorders and substance use disorders.
References
BEST PRACTICES GUIDELINES SCREENING AND INTERVENTION FOR MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND SUBSTANCE USE AND MISUSE IN THE ACUTE TRAUMA PATIENT American College of Surgeons December 2022
