In a prospective study on psychiatric emergencies in the setting of a general hospital, the phenomenon of repeat-visits was studied. Results confirm that repeaters repre sent a sizeable load on emergency services—about 18% of all psychiatric emergen cies. Females and neurotics are over-represented among the repeaters. Chronic repeaters tend to evoke strong feelings among the emergency physicians thereby decreasing their chances of referral to the psychiatry resident on call.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adityanjee Mohan D. & Wig, N.N. (1987) Psychiatric disorder in the general hospital. BritishJournal of Psychiatry, 150, 131.
2.
Gerson, S. & Bassuk, E. (1980) Psychiatric emergencies; an overview. American Journal of Psychiatry,137, 1-11.
3.
Johnson, J. (1969) Psychiatric emergencies in the community. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 10, 275-284.
4.
Purdie, R.F.J., Honigman, B. & Rosen, P. (1981) The chronic emergency department patient. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 10, 298.
5.
Slaby, A.E. & Perry, P.L. (1980-81) Use and abuse of psychiatric emergency services . International Journal of Psychiatry and Medicine, 10, 1-8.
6.
Trier, T. & Levy, R. (1969) Emergent, urgent and elective admissions. Archives of General Psychiatry,21, 423-430.
7.
Wayne, G. (1966) The psychiatric emergency: an overview. In: Emergency Psychiatry and Brief Therapy. (eds. WAYNE, G. & KOEGLER, R.)Boston: Little, Brown and Co.
8.
World Health Organization (1978) Mental Disorders: Glossary and Guide to their Classification in accordance with the Ninth of the International Classification of Diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization.
