How good are accident and emergency doctors in the evaluation of psychiatric patients?
Eur J Emerg Med
; 6(4): 297-300, 1999 Dec.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10646916
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to find out the agreement between psychiatrists and emergency department (ED) doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric emergencies. All patients presenting with a psychiatric complaint and who were subsequently referred to the psychiatrist were included. A standard form was used to collect demographic data, provisional diagnoses and initial treatment by ED doctors, diagnoses by psychiatrists, and compatibility of ED diagnoses and treatment as judged by consulting psychiatrists. The mean age of the 223 patients enrolled was 36.5 years and the distribution between males and females was roughly equal. The most frequent presentations were aggressive behaviour (27.9%), depressive mood (13.5%) and suicidal idea (12.1%). Schizophrenia (39%) was the most common diagnosis followed by depression (20%) and adjustment disorders (9.5%). The agreements between psychiatrists and ED doctors in diagnosis and treatment were 61.4% and 89.5% respectively. Schizophrenia and bipolar disorders were least likely to be mis-classified. It is concluded that ED doctors were deficient in the diagnosis of psychiatric conditions especially in the less common diagnostic categories.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Emergency Medicine
/
Emergency Services, Psychiatric
/
Mental Disorders
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Eur J Emerg Med
Journal subject:
MEDICINA DE EMERGENCIA
Year:
1999
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Hong Kong
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM