[Chronic crisis or recurrence of emergencies]

The authors have studied the characteristics of a group of chronic crisis patients among those who were treated in the psychiatric emergency unit of René-Dubos General Hospital (Pontoise, France). The population was defined as patients who visited the unit four times or more during one year (from 01/07/1991 to 30/06/1992). These 70 patients represent 4.3% of the total number of individuals who were treated in the emergency setting during the same year. 1568 patients were treated as out patients, or hospitalized for a short time, not exceeding 48 hours). Two sub groups can be distinguished. The first one is composed of patients who repeat their visits during a total period of less than 3 months. The second sub group is composed of repeaters who are seen regularly but for a longer period of time. The socio demographic and clinical characteristics (DSM-III R) of the two sub groups are discussed.