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The Accident and Emergency Department Management of Deliberate Self-Poisoning

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

David W. Owens  and
Susan J. Jones
David W. Owens*
Affiliation:
Mapperley Hospital, Nottingham, University of Leeds
Susan J. Jones
Affiliation:
Nottingham Psychiatric Case Register, currently Lecturer in General Practice, University of Nottingham
*
∗University of Leeds, Department of Psychiatry, 15 Hyde Terrace, Leeds LS2 9LT
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Abstract

Consecutive attenders (525) presenting at the Nottingham Accident and Emergency (A & E) department with deliberate self-poisoning were identified retrospectively. Their case-notes were examined for patient characteristics and clinical management. The Nottingham Psychiatric Case Register was examined for previous contact and use of psychiatric services over a 2-year follow-up period. Significant differences were found between those patients admitted to a ward and those who returned home from the A & E Department, in respect of likelihood of psychiatric morbidity and use of psychiatric services. One in three self-poisoning patients returns home directly from the accident department, and there seemed to be appropriate selection.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 152 , Issue 6 , June 1988 , pp. 830 - 833
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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