Use and abuse of psychiatric emergency services.
The pattern of use of psychiatric emergency services of a large university hospital are examined for a twelve month period. Factors associated with social isolation and poverty were found to be linked both with multiple episodes and disposition to a public facility. The implications for health planners are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004243:Divorce; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors