Alcohol-related psychiatric emergencies: differences in characteristics between those arriving at a walk-in clinic...

Forty-two cases attending a walk-in psychiatric emergency clinic with alcohol-related problems were studied retrospectively by case note abstraction. The majority, nearly two thirds, attended outside of office hours. These "out of hours" attenders were significantly more likely to be depressed, to show other psychiatric symptoms, to have recently attempted suicide, and at assessment to be threatening suicide. They were also more likely to have social problems. In contrast, those who were seen during office hours were significantly more likely to present with medical problems relating to their alcohol dependence. Both groups had commensurate numbers of new patients, catchment area patients, and patients from other areas. The results support the importance of providing a 24-hour service to help this group of desperate patients.