The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Emergency Service Volume and Hospital Admissions

Objective: Pathological gambling (PG) has been associated with several negative mental health outcomes. We attempted to assess the impact of PG at the level of the psychiatric emergency service (PES). Methods: In a first trial, clinical and demographic data were acquired from patients visiting the PES of a major university teaching hospital in downtown Montreal from July 1, 1996, to December 31, 2000. In a second trial, data were simultaneously acquired for a 2-year period in the above PES and in 3 others, beginning in September 2002. Results: In the first trial, from 2000 onward, the number of visits by PG patients to the PES increased by over 50%. In the second trial, the high level of PES use observed from 2000 onward in the first trial was similarly observed at all 4 PESs. The clinical and demographic characteristics of these patients were typical of help-seeking PG patients. They were, however, significantly less likely to be frequent users of the PES or to be hospitalized. Conclusion: Although still manageable, the clinical impact of PG on the PES increased significantly during the course of this study.

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The Impact of Increasing Staff Resources on Patient Flow in a Psychiatric Emergency Service

Psychiatric Services ◽

10.1176/appi.ps.201600202 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (5) ◽

pp. 470-475 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Lara Chepenik ◽

Edieal Pinker

Keyword(s):

Emergency Service ◽

Patient Flow ◽

Psychiatric Emergency ◽

Psychiatric Emergency Service ◽

The Impact

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Outreach Psychiatric Emergency Service

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000651 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (5) ◽

pp. 375-382

Author(s):

Remco F. P. de Winter ◽

Mirjam C. Hazewinkel ◽

Roland van de Sande ◽

Derek P. de Beurs ◽

Marieke H. de Groot

Keyword(s):

General Practitioner ◽

General Hospital ◽

Suicidal Behavior ◽

Emergency Service ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Emergency Services ◽

Psychiatric Emergency ◽

Psychiatric Emergency Services ◽

Psychiatric Emergency Service ◽

Suicidal Patients

Abstract. Background: Outreach psychiatric emergency services play an important role in all stages of a suicidal crisis; however, empirical assessment data are scarce. This study describes characteristics of patients assessed by these services and involved in suicidal crises. Method: During a 5-year period, detailed information from psychiatric emergency service assessments was recorded; 14,705 assessments were included. Characteristics of patients with/without suicidal behavior and with/without suicide attempts were compared. Outcomes were adjusted for clustering of features within individual patients. Results: Suicidal behavior was assessed in 32.2% of patients, of whom 9.2% attempted suicide. Suicidal behavior was most commonly associated with depression or adjustment disorder and these patients were referred to the service by a general practitioner or a general hospital, whereas those who attempted suicide were less likely to be referred by a general practitioner. Those who attempted suicide were more likely to be female and have had a referral by a general hospital. Self-poisoning by medication was the most common method of attempting suicide. Limitations: Bias could be due to missed or incomplete assessments. Primary diagnoses were based on clinical observation at the time of the assessment or on the primary diagnosis previously recorded. In addition, suicidal behavior or attempted suicide might have been underestimated. Conclusions: Suicidal behavior is commonplace in assessments by psychiatric emergency services. Suicidal patients with/without a suicide attempt differed with respect to demographic features, primary diagnoses, and referring entities, but not with respect to treatment policy. About 40% of the suicidal patients with/without an attempt were admitted following assessment.

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