PERFIL DOS ATENDIMENTOS POR EMERGÊNCIAS PSIQUIÁTRICAS EM UM PRONTO SOCORRO GERAL

Objective: This study investigates the occurrence and nature of psychiatric emergencies in a general emergency department. Location: Palmas General Hospital (HGPP), State of Tocantins, Brazil. Methods: From November 2022 to July 2023, through an observational analysis of patient records, the frequency of visits, demographic data and clinical assessments are evaluated to build an epidemiological profile, which will assist in the development of improved management protocols and the dissemination of knowledge. Results: In this sample of 24,697 emergency room visits over 9 months, 6.4% of the cases were psychiatric emergencies. These cases were more frequent among young adults and women. The most common situations involved suicide risk, psychotic symptoms and psychomotor agitation, and the most frequent diagnoses were psychotic disorders, substance use disorders and depressive disorder. The data was similar to other studies, with some differences. Conclusion: Future studies with larger and more detailed samples will not only be able to profile psychiatric emergencies but also predict the most frequent cases, which is essential for planning public policies and training health professionals.