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Emergency referrals to an acute psychiatric service: demographic social and clinical characteristics and comparisons with those receiving continuing services
- Authors:
- HATFIELD Barbara, SPURRELL Mark, PERRY Amanda
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health, 9(3), June 2000, pp.305-317.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
The characteristics of individuals referred to psychiatric emergency services serve as one indicator of the functioning of the service system as a whole. A two-month cohort of emergency referrals is described and comparisons made with a Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) caseload group. The characteristics of the individual, dimensions of the crisis, and the outcome of the emergency assessment were recorded in each case. The study raises the issue of whether prioritising of specialist mental health services to those with severe and enduring mental illness serves to exclude other vulnerable groups. Whilst most individuals in the study had a history of episodic psychiatric contact, many would be likely to satisfy the criteria for continuing support. Some may only have transient needs related to the life crisis; for others with more chronic difficulties, an emergency response alone cannot be expected to make an impact.