Clinical observation, pharmacotherapy and referral on discharge of patients with anxiety disorder in a psychiatric emergency service.

Introduction: To analyze factors associated with clinical observation, pharmacotherapy and referral on discharge of patients with anxiety disorder (AD) seeking care at a psychiatric emergency unit.

Method: A total of 5003 consecutive visits were reviewed over a three-year period at a psychiatric emergency service in a tertiary university hospital. Data collected included sociodemographic and clinical information as well as the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the Severity Psychiatric Illness (SPI) scale scores.

Utilization of psychiatric emergency services by homeless persons in Spain.

Objective: Studies examining the relationship between homeless persons and the use of psychiatric emergency services (PES) in a country with universal access to health care are lacking. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of homelessness in adults visiting a PES in Spain, identify the differences between homeless and non-homeless patients in the use of PES and analyze the factors associated with homelessness and the decision to hospitalize.

Method: The study included a total of 11 578 consecutive admissions to a PES in a tertiary hospital in Barcelona, Spain, over a 4-year period.