title: Psychiatric referrals from an accident and emergency department in Singapore.
abstract: A total of 500 consecutive psychiatric referrals from the Accident and Emergency (A&D) Department of the National University Hospital of Singapore were studied with regard to their demographic characteristics, diagnoses, presenting problems and management. There were 314 females (62.8%) and 186 males (37.2%), and the mean age of subjects was 35.5 years. The three main diagnoses were anxiety disorders (25.6%), depression (19.4%) and schizophrenia (17.6%). About 41% were admitted, of whom two-fifths were initially admitted to the medical ward because of drug overdose or alcohol intoxication. A further 34% were treated as out-patients, and 21% were discharged.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ang
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kua
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology