PSYCHIATRIC ADMISSIONS TO A GENERAL HOSPITAL
ROBERT J. MEARIN M. D., and
LAURETTA A. BLAKE M. D.
A study of emergency psychiatric admissions to a suburban general hospital for a 2-year period is presented. Unfortunately cases listed as "attempted suicides" could not be classified as to diagnosis. Such cases received only emergency treatment and then either were discharged in care of a physician or were transferred to private or county sanitaria. The need for provision of adequate care for psychiatric emergencies must be stressed. In the area in which the hospital utilized for this study is located 2 programs are now under consideration to provide adequate care for such patients and to allow for their detainment for a sufficient time for careful evaluation. Under the first plan the county mental hospital would provide such facilities. If this plan proves not feasible then the general hospital will set up a unit for the care and study of these patients.
