Retrospective Analysis of Hospital Records of Patients Admitted to the Emergency Department and Diagnosed with Psychiatric Disorder

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to retrospectively assess the hospital records of patients admitted to the emergency department of a training research hospital and diagnosed with a mental/psychiatric disorder. Material-Methods: In our study, medical records with pre-diagnosis of psychiatric disorder were scanned retrospectively in the electronic environment from the applications made to the emergency department of a training and research hospital in a one-year period covering 2017. The data were collected using a form prepared as per the current literature and developments. Using descriptive statistics, socio-demographic and health history characteristics and clinical diagnoses were evaluated. Results: It was determined that 84.04% of all patients that were admitted to the emergency department for mental health reasons were diagnosed with code F41 (other anxiety disorders), that 23.60% were in the 15-24 age group, and that 69.50% were female. The emergency department admission characteristics of the subjects were as follows: 10.60% of all admissions were made in July, 48.20% were made between 16:01-00:00, 5.00% were referred to psychiatric consultation, 93.60% received ambulatory follow-up, and 12.90% were admitted to the emergency department two or more times within one year. Conclusion: The most common diagnosis was “other anxiety disorders” and the majority of the patients were young adults and female. Since emergency departments are among the first places where individuals seek medical care for mental health, we believe that our results will help structure emergency psychiatric services.