Psychiatric emergency service in a Malaysian general hospital

In February to March 1982 at the psychiatric emergency service of the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, some data on 491 patients (92% of 531 patients seen) were collected. Two-hundred and eighty-three patients had received psychiatric treatment and 65 had previously received medical treatment. Fifty-three per cent of the patients have schizophrenic disorders, 5.1% had situational reactions and 1.63% had chronic alcoholism. Of the 111 patients presented with either physical complaints or insomnia, eleven of them were admitted to the psychiatric wards. Three-hundred and eleven patients were followed-up in the psychiatric outpatient clinics. The availability of a psychiatric emergency service in a general hospital can contribute towards early psychiatric case findings and preventive Intervention. II provides an opportunity for liaison and consultation with other medical colleagues in the care of patients with physical complaints and attempted suicides.

Study site: Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)