Keywords
Emergency department
Mental health
Cross-sectional study
Pakistan
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Emergency departments (EDs) serve as critical entry points for individuals experiencing acute psychiatric crises. Understanding the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of these patients is essential for improving emergency psychiatric care delivery.
Objective: To analyze the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients referred from the Emergency Department to Psychiatry at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, and examine correlations between demographic factors and clinical presentations.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted over six months at Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Data from 384 patients referred from the ED to psychiatry were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Sociodemographic variables and clinical presentations were examined for associations.
Results: The majority of patients were male (62.8%), aged 25-35 years (38.5%), and from urban areas (71.4%). Depression was the most common diagnosis (31.2%), followed by anxiety disorders (24.7%) and psychotic disorders (18.8%). Sleep disturbances were the most frequent presenting complaint (22.9%). Significant associations were found between gender and diagnosis type (p<0.001), age and severity of presentation (p<0.05), and socioeconomic status and treatment outcomes (p<0.01).
Conclusion: This study provides crucial insights into psychiatric emergency presentations in a Pakistani tertiary care setting, highlighting the need for targeted interventions and improved resource allocation for emergency psychiatric services.