title: Medical clearance of psychiatric patients.
abstract: Patients with primarily psychiatric complaints commonly present to emergency departments. The challenges to emergency medicine physicians are to distinguish functional from organic disease and to address any underlying medical comorbidities. The key elements of this medical "clearance" evaluation of psychiatric patients are discussed. The tremendous importance of the history and physical examination are highlighted, as is judicious use of laboratory and radiographic testing. Toxicology testing is specifically addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shepherd
mesh_terms: D015984:Causality; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004630:Emergencies; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D010808:Physical Examination