An Analysis of Time Factors in Psychiatric Crisis Units

A study of the frequency of visits to a psychiatric crisis clinic showed that most occurred between noon and 4 p.m., and that weekend visits were proportionately low. The findings enabled the pattern of staff coverage to be changed to meet the timing of service demands. A comparison with a study made ten years earlier in a Midwestern university hospital revealed striking similarities in frequency patterns, and the authors suggest the need for additional investigations to shed light on the relation between the nature and the timing of crisis visits.