Translation of “abnormal behavior” referral in emergency department, what does it mean for the C&L psychiatrist?
Translation of “abnormal behavior” referral in emergency department, what does it mean for the C&L psychiatrist?

Summary/Abstract: The presentation of any psychiatric patient to a general hospital Emergency Department is at best a potential for disruption of the routine and requiring special care, special attention and precautions and definitely needing special logistics. The Emergency physician intervention is an emergency measure: IE life or limb saving intervention, so medical stabilization is a major goal. When it comes to well and seemingly healthy presentation with psychiatric symptoms or behavioral disturbances, the referral is made directly to the psychiatrist with little history of the current presentation and usually it is filed to consultation as “Abnormal Behavior”. We looked into this group to see what is hidden behind the blanket that label. Our results were congruent with many other published papers as to the frequency of nonpsychiatric cases referred to psychiatry. A practical recommendation was derived from the experience in this paper we are discussing the results and the recommendations.

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