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Published Online: 1 August 2011

Frequent Visits to a French Psychiatric Emergency Service: Diagnostic Variability in Psychotic Disorders

Laurent Boyer, M.D., Ph.D. [email protected], Daniel Dassa, M.D., Ph.D., Raoul Belzeaux, M.D., Jean-Marc Henry, M.D., Jean-Claude Samuelian, M.D., Karine Baumstarck-Barrau, M.D., and Christophe Lancon, M.D., Ph.D.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric Services
Volume 62, Number 8
https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.62.8.pss6208_0966
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Abstract

Objective:

This study examined characteristics of frequent visitors to a psychiatric emergency service in a French public teaching hospital over six years. Diagnostic variability of psychotic disorders was documented.

Methods:

A retrospective review of the service's administrative and medical databases identified 1,285 patients with more than one visit during the period who were given at least one diagnosis of a psychotic disorder. A total of 317 patients with six or more visits (frequent visitors) were compared with 968 patients with between two and five visits (occasional visitors).

Results:

Frequent visitors were significantly more likely to be single and homeless and to have diagnostic variability, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. A total of 177 patients experienced diagnostic variability, which was found mainly in three diagnostic categories: schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder with psychotic features.

Conclusions:

Future studies should further examine the link between increased use of emergency services and diagnostic variability. (Psychiatric Services 62:966–970, 2011)

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Figures and Tables

Table 1 Univariate and multivariate analyses of characteristics of 1,285 visitors to the psychiatric emergency service of a French public mental health hospital, 2001–2006, by visit frequency

Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
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Cover: The South Gorge, Appeldore, Isles of Shoals, by Childe Hassam. Oil on canvas, 22¼ × 18 inches. Collection of the Newark Museum, Newark, New Jersey. Photo credit: the Newark Museum/Art Resource, New York.
Psychiatric Services
Volume 62 • Number 8 • August 2011
Pages: 966 - 970
PubMed: 21807840

History

Published online: 1 August 2011
Published in print: August 2011

Authors

Affiliations

Laurent Boyer, M.D., Ph.D. [email protected]
Dr. Boyer is affiliated with the Department of Public Health, La Timone University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, 13 385 Marseille, France (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Daniel Dassa, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Dassa, Dr. Henry, and Dr. Samuelian are with the Department of Psychiatry, Conception University Hospital, Marseille, France.
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Raoul Belzeaux, M.D.
Dr. Belzeaux and Dr. Lancon are with the Department of Psychiatry, Sainte Marguerite University Hospital, Marseille, France.
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Jean-Marc Henry, M.D.
Dr. Dassa, Dr. Henry, and Dr. Samuelian are with the Department of Psychiatry, Conception University Hospital, Marseille, France.
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Jean-Claude Samuelian, M.D.
Dr. Dassa, Dr. Henry, and Dr. Samuelian are with the Department of Psychiatry, Conception University Hospital, Marseille, France.
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Karine Baumstarck-Barrau, M.D.
Dr. Baumstarck-Barrau is with the Department of Clinical Research, Nord University Hospital, Marseille, France.
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Christophe Lancon, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Belzeaux and Dr. Lancon are with the Department of Psychiatry, Sainte Marguerite University Hospital, Marseille, France.
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