Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Several recent studies have reported a significant increase in medical emergency department ED use for reasons of mental health.
The diagnostic profile of these patients however differs from that usually described for patients visiting the psychiatric emergency service PES. Few studies have specifically focused upon long-term PES utilization rates.
Those that do typically present data from the early 80s, suggesting that deinstitutionalization may be an important contributing factor to the increases found.
The aim of this study was to assess PES use using a more recent time frame and, the effects of non-specific factors, such as population growth, on this use. Visits per year at several different types of PESs were obtained; a for an year period at a general hospital PES while the surrounding population remained stable, b at that same PES while the catchment area population doubled over a period of a few years, c for an year period at two PESs without catchment areas while the surrounding population increased and d- for a year period at a PES in a mental health facility while the surrounding population increased.
Moderately conservative criteria were used to define either a trend or, a significant increase in utilization rates. Over time however, only those where the surrounding population increased either by an increase in the catchment area size or a regional increase in the population census showed a trend or, a significant increase in utilization rates.
