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Lynne Lamberg

JAMA. 2002;288:686-687.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Philadelphia—Psychiatric emergencies often erupt suddenly. A person may curse or hit others, throw objects, or brandish a weapon. The individual may announce plans to commit suicide or attempt to do so. Someone may neglect self-care and stop eating, exhibit confusion, and perhaps wander into traffic, or go outside unclothed. Those at the scene—family, friends, coworkers, perhaps strangers—can't handle the situation. They call police or an ambulance.

Time of day is a factor, too. Psychiatric emergencies peak between 6 PM and 10 PM. With family members home together, long-standing conflicts may explode. Substance use, which rises in the evening, aggravates disruptive behavior. Family physicians, pastoral counselors, and other resources may be hard to reach.

The incidence of psychiatric emergencies is rising, said Michael Allen, MD, who chaired a symposium on the topic at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA). While the US population has grown, . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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