Transfers to a psychiatric emergency room: a fresh look at the dumping symdrome

There can be considerable interinstitutional distrust regarding transfer of psychiatric patients. In 1970 the directors of all psychiatric hospitals in New York City began to meet regularly in order to define problems and work out amicable resolutions, largely by defining criteria for hospitalization, establishing correct catchment area address, etc. In order to test the success of the program, three medical centers which routinely transfer patients to a receiving hospital were studied in order to see if they misrepresented patients' psychopathology or medical problems prior to transfer. It was found that 90% of the transfers were warranted, but that preselection at the hospital or origin led to the transfer of more males than females and more assaultive, rather than quieter patients, who might have been more amenable to inpatient treatment.