J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol.  2016 Jun;14(1):37-46.

Limitation of Psychiatric Intervention for Suicidal Drug Intoxication Patients in Emergency Room

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea. emtaegu@dsmc.or.kr
  • 2Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Dongsan Medical Center, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was designed to determine the factors hindering psychiatric intervention for suicide attempters in the emergency room (ER).
METHODS
Participants were 299 patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the ER for suicidal drug overdose between July 2012 and June 2014. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had received psychiatric treatment in the ER. Medical histories and follow-up treatments were determined by examining patients' medical records and through phone surveys, and were then compared using χ2-test and Fisher's exact test. In addition, the rate of satisfaction of the treatment group and the reasons for their dissatisfaction were also determined.
RESULTS
The treatment and non-treatment groups comprised 135 (45%) and 164 patients (55%), respectively. Factors influencing participation in psychiatric intervention were previous history of suicide attempts (p=0.004), history of psychiatric disorder (p<0.001), time of day (p=0.039), and day of the week (p=0.040) of arrival in the ER. Whether or not the patient received follow-up psychiatric treatment was not significantly relevant (p=0.300). Of the 82 patients who participated in the treatment satisfaction survey, 50.2% reported being unsatisfied, mainly because of unfriendly medical personnel (36.6%), discomfort regarding other people's perceptions (24.4%), and cursory care (14.6%).
CONCLUSION
To raise the participation rate of psychiatric consult, cooperation with psychiatry at night and on weekends is required, and incorporation of patients without previous history of suicidal attempt or other psychiatric disorder is important. Resolution of complaints toward psychiatric consult in suicide attempt survivors is also required.

Keyword

Emergency service; Poisoning; Psychiatry; Suicide

MeSH Terms

Drug Overdose
Emergencies*
Emergency Service, Hospital*
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Medical Records
Poisoning
Suicide
Survivors
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