Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients referred to the psychiatry unit of the emergency department at the National University of Asunción’s General Hospital, Paraguay

ABSTRACT

All psychiatric consultations carried out over one year at the Psychiatry Unit of the Emergency Department at the National University of Asunción’s Clinical Hospital, Paraguay were analysed with the aim of quantifying the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients presenting to our facilities in order to learn the most common diagnosis, patient characteristics and treatment approaches. We recruited patients admitted to the emergency department between 1 May 2015 and 1 May 2016 for whom a psychiatric consultation was required. Only the first consultation of each patient was taken into consideration. Our study sample included 800 patients. Categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. For comparing the means, we used the Student's t-test or ANOVA, as appropriate. For analyzing the association between categorical variables, we performed Pearson’s chi-squared test. We considered test results with p < 0.05 as significant. Statistical analyses were performed using the Epi Info software. The sample’s mean age was of 37±20 years. The patients came mostly from the city of San Lorenzo and nearby towns. The most frequent DSM 5 psychiatric diagnoses were disorders of the ‘Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders’ group in 20.13% of patients, and disorders of the ‘Depressive Disorders’ group in 16.75% of patients. We found statistical association between the diagnoses and age (F = 2.804; p < 0.001) and also between diagnoses and gender ($\chi$² = 1742.1 [39]; p < 0.001). Of the sample, 85% had received at least one type of psychotropic drug. Psychotherapy and/or counselling techniques were prescribed in only 10% of cases. The emergency department may represent the place where the first psychiatric visit occurs and a point of reference for chronic patients. The social relevance and clinical challenges of mental disorders are the main contributors to the need for more studies on the quality of medical care for this population, especially in emergency settings.

KEYWORDS:

• demographics
• clinical characteristics
• psychiatric emergencies
• emergency room

Notes on contributors

Julio Torales is Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology and Head of the Neuroscience Department, National University of Asuncion, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.

Antonio Ventriglio is Honorary Researcher, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.

Iván Barrios is student fellow, Neuroscience Department, School of Medical Sciences, National University of Asuncion, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.

Andrés Arce is Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology and Head of the Psychiatry Department, National University of Asuncion, San Lorenzo, Paraguay.