title: A clinic within a general hospital for the assessment of urgent psychiatric problems.
abstract: Of 100 consecutive referrals to a clinic for urgent psychiatric assessment only a third (34 patients) were considered to warrant such urgent attention. In 29 of the 34 cases the patient's behaviour--either intent to harm himself or unpredictable behaviour that alarmed the referring agent--was the most important consideration for urgent assessment.
mesh_terms: D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D010343:Patient Admission; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis