[Epidemiological study of psychiatric and psychosocial emergencies at the University Hospital of the Free University in Brussels (AZ-VUB)].

This epidemiological study in a psychiatric emergency ward demonstrates the existence of a population in Psychosocial Crisis. An operational definition of Psychosocial Crisis is proposed on the basis of psychopathological and psychosocial scales. Suicide attempts are extremely frequent in this population. It appears to be very difficult to bring a prospective study in an emergency ward to a successful conclusion.