title: Characteristics and outcome of patients brought to an emergency department by police under the provisions (Section 10) of the Mental Health Act in Victoria, Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics and outcome of patients brought to an emergency department by police under Section 10 of Mental Health Act (Victoria, Australia).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective medical record review. Patients referred under Section 10 provisions treated in calendar year 2009 were identified from ED database. Data collected included demographics, incident details, patient management, final diagnosis and disposition. Primary outcomes of interest were ED diagnosis and disposition. Secondary outcomes were length of stay in ED and use of restraint or sedation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and ninety seven presentations by 164 patients were identified. Patients were predominantly male (58%) with median age of 35 years (IQR 22-44, range 16-69). The most common presenting complaint (65%) was threat of self harm. No sedation or restraint was used in 61%. Sixty seven percent were deemed safe for discharge home while 26% were admitted to a psychiatric ward (equally divided between voluntary and involuntary admission). The predominant discharge diagnosis was self harm ideation or intent (35%). Median ED length of stay was 156 min (inter-quartile range 79-416).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients brought to ED by police under Section 10 provisions were for threat of self harm and did not require sedation or restraint. The majority are discharged home. Further work exploring less restrictive or traumatic processes to facilitate psychiatric assessment of this group of patients is warranted.
authors.affiliation: (Formerly) Department of Emergency Medicine, Western Health, Australia.
authors.forename: Karim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Al-Khafaji
authors.affiliation: (Formerly) Department of Emergency Medicine, Western Health, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loy
authors.affiliation: Joseph Epstein Centre for Emergency Medicine Research at Western Health, Australia; The University of Melbourne, Australia. Electronic address: anne-maree.kelly@wh.org.au.
authors.forename: Anne-Maree
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Emergency; Mental health; Police