[A personal crisis support team at an accident and emergency department].

BACKGROUND The Personal Crisis Support Team at Bergen Accident and Emergency Department offers open access interventions for individuals that have experienced a psychosocial crisis. The aim of the study was to investigate contacts to the personal crisis support team, causes of contact and referrals. MATERIAL AND METHODS All contacts in 2006 were included in the study. Variables such as patients' gender, age, cause of contact, number of consultations and to whom the patients were referred were recorded from the medical records. RESULTS The Personal Crisis Support Team handled 2090 contacts and received 901 patients; 602 of whom were women. Nearly every third patient (n = 186) were between 19-30 years old. The patients presented with many different causes of contact, but the majority (n = 590) came due to psychosocial crises, such as unexpected life events or worries about own children. 267 patients presented with symptoms of possible mental disorders. Most patients were further referred to various public or private health services. INTERPRETATION The Personal Crisis Support Team at Bergen Accident and Emergency Department was approached by patients of all ages with various psychosocial crises. This support team is an example of community-based early intervention after crisis.