BACKGROUND To analyze the turnaround times of psychiatric patients within the Emergency Department (ED) from registration to discharge or hospitalization in a University Hospital in 2002. METHODS Data from a one-year period of psychiatric admissions to the emergency service at a University Hospital were monitored and analyzed focused on turnaround times within the ED. Information on patients ...

AIMS (1) To examine whether prevalence of burnout is higher among community psychiatric nurses working under recently introduced job specific work systems than among public health nurses (PHNs) engaged in other public health services. (2) To identify work environment factors potentially contributing to burnout. METHODS Two groups were examined. The psychiatric group comprised 525 PHNs primari...

BACKGROUND Classification of Psychiatric Emergency Presentations (PEP) is not sufficiently clear due to their inherent high inter-subjectivity and lack of validated triage instruments. In order to improve current classification of psychiatric emergency presentations (PEP) at Emergency Departments, we implemented and validated the Color-Risk Psychiatric Triage (CRPT), an instrument for classifyi...

The reduction of seclusion and restraint (S/R) use has been given national priority by the US government, The Joint Commission, and patient advocacy groups. It is associated with high rates of patient and staff injuries and is a coercive and potentially traumatizing intervention. The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is the largest municipal health care system in the country,...

BACKGROUND Patients with multimorbidity are an increasing concern in healthcare. Clinical practice guidelines, however, do not take into account potential therapeutic conflicts caused by co-occurring medical conditions. This makes therapeutic decisions complex, especially in emergency situations. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to identify and quantify therapeutic conflicts in emergency d...

OBJECTIVE To review, firstly, published studies comparing classic antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and/or combination of both; and secondly, available data on the use of atypical antipsychotic medications in controlling agitation and aggressive behaviour seen in psychiatric patients in emergency. METHOD In the first review, studies comparing antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and combination of...

Background Acute migraine headaches can last from 4 hours to 3 days if untreated. Migraines often require bed rest, pain medications, and time off from work and other activities, thus reducing an individual’s productivity and quality of life. Seven percent of U.S. migraine patients reported using an ED or urgent care center for treatment within the previous 12 months. Of patients who use an ED ...

Background Seclusion continues to be a widespread measure used in psychiatric settings. Furthermore, the humanitarian, ethical and legal issues associated with the use of seclusion make it one of the most controversial management strategies available. Despite these important issues, little nursing research has sought to gain an understanding of the nurses' decision-making process regarding the ...

BACKGROUND Routine administration of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and needs assessment instruments has been advocated as part of clinical care to aid the recognition of psychosocial problems, to inform clinical decision making, to monitor therapeutic response and to facilitate patient-doctor communication. However, their adoption is not without cost and the benefit of their use is unc...