ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to summarize the data as it pertains to the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients seen in psychiatric emergency settings. Most of the studies cited found that the largest single population seen were young adults. Approximately 50% of the patients seen in psychiatric emergency services are in their 20s or 30s, far exceeding their numbers in the general population. In considering age as a demographic characteristic, it is important to note that age may interact with other clinical variables. In particular, age may interact with diagnosis. Unfortunately, most studies of emergency psychiatric services were conducted before the widespread use of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III or other reliable and validated diagnostic criteria. Two special diagnostic categories that are worth considering in more detail are "organic" or "medical-psychiatric" problems and "acute stress reactions." The first group are those with organic features, related either to a medical illness or to substance abuse.
