Youth population access to psychiatric care: a cross sectional analysis of Padua Emergency Department accesses
Poster A43,
Giovanni Miotto1,2, Carla Cremonese2, Luca Ballan1, Nadia Campagnola2, Foscarina Della Rocca3, Riccardo Rudello1,2, Iolanna Chiappini1,2, Aldo Gatto2, Luca Mesiano2, Prof. Paolo Santonastaso1,2; 1Università degli Studi di Padova, 2Clinica Psichiatrica di Padova, 3Dipartimento Aziendale di Medicina d'Urgenza di Padova
This study aims to provide a descriptive picture of the youth population (15 to 24) who accessed Emergency Departments (EDs) and mental health services by means of a cross-sectional analysis of 7613 patients who had had at least one access to Padua EDs and psychiatric outpatient facilities in the 2012-2014 period. More than 2500 young patients accessed to Padua EDs every year (excluding physical injuries, which account for 62% of the accesses), of which 8.4% received a conclusive psychiatric diagnosis. 14.4% of young psychiatric outcare patients were referred from ED, compared to an average of 1.8% of patients who arrived from other facilities. Patients with Psychosis-related diagnosis tend to use more frequently EDs as first access to psychiatric care (63.4%) and Psychosis account for 33.9% of psychiatric hospitalization. 20% of Red Codes (Which means immediate risk for life) are caused by a mental illness, that percentage reaches 45% if Substance Use Disorders are included. Multiple accesses for Intoxications or Red Codes and multiple accesses for different symptoms are related to psychiatric diagnosis. 17% of patients with a conclusive psychiatric diagnosis were admitted, compared to the average of 8% for all other diagnoses. Mental disorders are among the most common causes of disability in young people. Early intervention is proven to play a critical role on the outcome. EDs often represent the first point of contact for initiating psychiatric care for young people; it is therefore important to thoroughly study the problem in order to find specific and effective strategies.
Topic Area: Epidemiology