Factors Related to Emergency Commitment of Chronic Mentally ill Patients who are Substance Abusers

247 chronic mentally ill patients committed for emergency involuntary hospitalization were grouped on the basis of positive or negative urine toxicology screens. Subjects who screened positive for substance abuse were more likely to be committed for making threats & to be diagnosed with organic mental disorder or substance abuse disorder. Subjects who screened negative were more likely to be committed because of assualts or suicidal behavior & to have schizophrenia or other psychotic disorder.