Alcohol use and psychiatric illness in emergency patients.
Screening for alcoholism and associated psychiatric disorders using preselected research criteria demonstrated an overall prevalence of alcoholism of 20% in 200 emergency department patients. The nighttime prevalence of alcoholism was 29%, while the daytime prevalence was 11%. The psychiatric disorders most frequently associated with alcoholism were primary affective disorder (depression) and antisocial personality. The alcoholics had chief complaints relating to trauma in 63% of the cases, vague neuropsychiatric complaints in 23% of the cases, and complaints directly related to alcohol in 8% of the cases. Screening for alcoholism and associated psychiatric illnesses is important in determining an overall treatment strategy for emergency patients.
D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002140:California; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires