Characteristics of Patients Completing Referrals From an Emergency Department to a Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic

The purposes of this study were 1) to investigate both the demographic & clinical characteristics of patients who successfully complete referrals from a psychiatric emergency department to a psychiatric outpatient clinic; & 2) to determine by means of a thorough follow-up the characteristics of patients who failed to complete the referral but sought treatment elsewhere in the community. (15 refs)