2017 Volume 29 Issue 1 Pages 15-23
As psychiatrists working for Kitasato University Hospital Emergency Center (hereafter, the Center), we examined the cases of patients who were transferred to the Center and were suspected of having a psychiatric disorder. We have been involved in the treatment of suicidal patients, such as acute drug intoxicated patients and people who have attempted suicide by hanging, those injured by leaping, and those with stab wounds, as well as patients who were hospitalized with severe non-mental diseases and developed psychiatric disorders. The following tendencies were observed in patients treated at the Center: 1) The percentage of suicidal patients is high among those treated by psychiatrists at the Center. 2) The percentage of patients with mood disorders (F3) is high among suicidal patients treated by psychiatrists at the Center, and many of them are transferred to psychiatric medical institutions after discharge. 3) The duration of hospitalization tends to be related to the method of attempted suicide (the duration is short for overdose patients, whereas it is long for patients injured by leaping). We have the following impressions from working at the Center: 1) As reported previously, the percentage of suicidal patients is high (≥10%) among patients transferred to the Center. 2) The main role of psychiatrists is the treatment of suicidal patients. 3) A high turnover of beds in the Center is required for early treatment and casework for each patient is necessary. 4) Further studies are required to realize efficient cooperation with other psychiatric medical institutions.
