Characteristics of Psychiatric Emergency Room Patients With Alcohol- or Drug-Induced Disorders

Collected data to describe the demographic & clinical characteristics of 343 consecutive patients referred to a general hospital’s emergency psychiatry service. The 114 Ss diagnosed as having an alcohol or drug-induced disorder were younger, more often male, unemployed & homeless, & also demonstrated increased suicidality. Alcohol was the predominant substance that contributed to psychiatric emergencies but a surprising number of Ss were diagnosed as having amphetamine-induced disorders.