[Characteristics of psychiatric patients in the accident and emergency department (ED)].
OBJECTIVE
To obtain data and results concerning the acute treatment of psychiatric patients within a general ED.


METHODS
Retrospective examination of psychiatric cases treated in the ED of the Hannover Medical School in the year 2002. Patient characteristics were evaluated concerning diagnosis, technical examinations, therapeutic steps and data relating to the length of stay and patterns of usage of emergency services.


RESULTS
2069 psychiatric patients were seen in the ED. Additionally 563 psychiatric consultations were requested. Accordingly, psychiatry is the fourth most frequented discipline within the ED. 51.6 % of the patients were male, the average age was 43.5 years. Acute alcohol intoxication was the most frequent diagnosis with 20.2 %, followed by paranoid schizophrenia in 14.2 % and acute adjustment disorder in 6.7 % of the patients. Suicidal behaviour was present in 12.1 %.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric patients represent a large part of the general interdisciplinary ED. Data may support quality assurance and service planning.
Kropp
Stefan
S
Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Asklepios Fachklinikum Teupitz.
Andreis
Christoph
C
te Wildt
Bert
B
Sieberer
Marcel
M
Ziegenbein
Marc
M
Huber
Thomas J
TJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019955:Conduct Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data