Characteristics of Psychiatric Patients Referred by Police to an Emergency Department

Heeyeon Keum; Jangho Park; Kukju Kweon; Joon-Ho Ahn

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2019.58.3.230

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.58(3) > 1131983

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Keum, Park, Kweon, and Ahn: Characteristics of Psychiatric Patients Referred by Police to an Emergency Department

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2019; 58(3): 230-237.

Published online: 31 August 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2019.58.3.230

Characteristics of Psychiatric Patients Referred by Police to an Emergency Department

Heeyeon Keum, MD, Jangho Park, MD, PhD, Kukju Kweon, MD, Joon-Ho Ahn, MD, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Joon-Ho Ahn, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 877 Bangeojinsunhwando-ro, Dong-gu, Ulsan 44033, Korea. Tel +82-52-250-8817, Fax +82-52-232-3309, dreye@chol.com

Received 2 May 2019 Revised 18 May 2019 Accepted 27 May 2019

Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Abstract

Objectives

This study compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of police referrals with referrals from other sources to a psychiatric emergency department.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on the data from the psychiatric emergency department of Ulsan University Hospital from January 2014 to October 2017. The study sample consisted of 79 psychiatric patients who were referred by police, and the characteristics of this group were compared with those of 240 psychiatric patients who were referred by other sources. The collected data were analyzed using a chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and independent sample t-tests.

Results

Among the 1768 psychiatric emergency visits, 89 (5.0%) were referred by police, and among the 79 referrals by police chosen as the study group, there were 4(5.1%) cases of emergent psychiatric admission. These patients referred by police were more likely to be male and in a lower socio-economic status. Police referrals were more likely to exhibit violent behavior, be restrained, and more likely to visit after working hours. They were notified more rapidly to the psychiatric department, less notified to other departments, and visited the psychiatric outpatient clinics less after discharge from the emergency department.

Conclusion

The study results highlight the importance of understanding the characteristics of psychiatric emergency patients referred by police and identifying the problems of the current psychiatric emergency services. Systems need to be developed that clarify the roles of police in psychiatric emergencies and facilitate collaboration between police and mental health institutions.

Keywords: Police, Psychiatric emergency services, Emergent admission, Mental health law

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Demographic characteristics of groups

Data are mean±standard deviation or n (%) values. ^*: p<0.05, ^†: Except when visiting with police (patients alone, with family members, etc.)

Table 2

Reasons for police and other referrals

Data are n (%) values. ^*: p<0.05, ^†: Except when visiting with police (patients alone, with family members, etc.)

Table 3

Comparison of police and other referrals by clinical characteristics

Data are n (%) or mean±standard deviation values. ^*: p<0.05, ^†: Except when visiting with police (patients alone, with family members, etc.), ^‡: Drug side effects. AMA : Against medical advice, ER : Emergency room, ICD-10 : International Classification of Disease and Health Problems 10th Edition

Notes

^{Conflicts of Interest} The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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