The role of diagnosis in a psychiatric emergency setting.

A sample of 253 psychiatric emergency patients consecutively evaluated in a general hospital was studied to determine the role of psychiatric diagnosis in disposition decisions and the possible influences of patient and staff variables on diagnoses. Except for patients with organic brain syndrome, age and sex were not significantly associated with diagnostic grouping; some racial differences were found. Diagnosis was strongly associated with disposition decisions: schizophrenic and manic patients were more frequently hospitalized, while patients with substance abuse disorders, adjustment and neurotic disorders were more often referred to outpatient treatment. The authors stress the importance of a reliable diagnostic system and the recruitment of diagnosis-oriented staff in improving the quality of psychiatric emergency care.