Psychiatric admissions from the emergency department: An observational, retrospective study and recommendations for improved patient care and use of resources

Abstract

Introduction

Psychiatric patients visiting the Emergency Department (ED) often require ‘medical clearance’. We aim to review patient work-up in the ED to facilitate the management of these patients.

Objectives

- To identify common demographic variables, diagnoses and mental health legislative status of patients presenting to the ED requiring psychiatric admission - To assess whether patients underwent a medical work-up in the ED, and what investigations were carried out - To produce a hospital proforma for the management of psychiatric patients presenting at the ED

Methods

Data on adult psychiatric patients visiting the ED over a six month period was collected retrospectively, which was then analysed accordingly.

Results

473 patient admissions were reviewed. 32.8% were admitted to a non-psychiatric specialty before being accepted to psychiatry, with the most common reasons being due to overdose (30.3%), alcohol-related problems (19.4%), and medical complaints (18.7%). 63.2% of all patients were investigated in the ED, including 23.5% undergoing CT Brain imaging. The majority had a final diagnosis falling under F10-19 (30.2%) and F30-39 (30.9%) chapter categories of the ICD-10, with the former having the highest absolute number of patients undergoing testing in the ED. The F20-29 group (13.7%) was highest in total patients investigated (75.4%), CT brain imaging (56.9%), and rate of involuntary admissions (33.8%), suggesting they are the most resource intensive group.

Conclusions

Patients with acute mental disorders present significant challenges to emergency physicians. Staff education and an inter-departmentally agreed upon proforma, taking into account the results of this study, may facilitate management of these patients within the ED.