FACTORS RELATED TO FREQUENT USE OF PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY SERVICESAT SOMDET CHAOPRAYA INSTITUTE OF PSYCHIATRY

Abstract

Objective: This research was to study the related-factors to the frequent use of psychiatric emergency services at Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry.

Material and Method: This was a cross-sectional analytic study with the sample group of 422 patients who visited  an  emergency  department  of  the  institute  on  1^st,  9^th,  17^th and  25^th of every month from  October 1^st, 2013 until September 30^th, 2014. Patients’ information from out-patient records were collected to the data forms. Statistical analysis used were percentage, mean, standard deviation and logistic regression.

Results: Patients visited an emergency department during those time mentioned were 66.6% male with mean age of 37.13 ± 13.36, mostly uneducated or graduated from primary education level (36.0%). The majority of the patients were still out of job (55.5%), single (65.4%) and living with relatives (89.0%). Most of them had been sick for 0 - 5 years (54.5%) and been diagnosed for schizophrenia (53.8%). 59.9% have the history of drug use, mostly 2 or more kinds of drug (29.4%). Patients who came to an emergency department were mostly old patients (74.4%) and tend to be the patients with good compliance. Chief complaints were usually paranoia or delusions (26.9%). 77.4% had been brought to the service by relatives. Factors founded to have statistical importance to frequent use of the service were the history of previous hospital admission.

Conclusion:  Factors related to frequent use of an emergency department of Somdet Chaopraya Institute of Psychiatry within 1 year period from the first visit was history of previous hospital admission, which patients who had been admitted before tend to have repeated visits.