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. 2022 Nov 9;21(1):42.
doi: 10.1186/s12991-022-00421-2.

Factors predicting admission of psychiatric emergency contacts after presenting to the emergency department: results of a regression analysis

Heribert Kirchner  1 , Martin Schaefer  2   3 , Heiko Ullrich  4 , Nik Hulsmans  5 , Georg Juckel  6 , Patrick Brzoska  7 , Frank-Gerald Bernhard Pajonk  8   9
Affiliations

Factors predicting admission of psychiatric emergency contacts after presenting to the emergency department: results of a regression analysis

Heribert Kirchner et al. Ann Gen Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: Psychiatric emergency patients have great relevance in the interdisciplinary emergency department. Emergency physicians in this setting often have to make decisions under time pressure based on incomplete information regarding the patient's further treatment. The aim of this study was to identify possible predictors associated with an increased likelihood of inpatient psychiatric admission.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of all psychiatric emergency contacts in an interdisciplinary emergency department (ED) of a general hospital in a large German city was conducted for 2015. A binary regression analysis was performed to identify possible predictors.

Results: In 2015, a total of 21421 patient contacts were reported in the emergency department, of which 1733 were psychiatric emergencies. Psychiatric emergency was the fourth most common cause presenting to the ED. The most common diagnosis given was mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of psychotropic substances (F1). Factors associated with an increased probability of inpatient psychiatric admission were previously known patients, patients under a legal care order (guardianship), and previous outpatient medical contact. No association for gender or age was found. Data demonstrated a negative relationship between a neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorder diagnosis and admission.

Conclusions: The present study shows some significant characteristics associated with an increased likelihood of emergency admission. Independent of the health care system, the predictors found seem to be relevant with regard to the probability of admission, when compared internationally. To improve the treatment of patients in emergency units, these factors should be taken into account.

Keywords: Admission; Emergency department; Predictor; Psychiatric emergency; Regression analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Shows the share of each diagnosis in the total number of patients presenting to the ER (blue columns). Furthermore, the red columns show the percentage of inpatient admissions corresponding to diagnoses F0–F7
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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