A study of emergency psychiatric referrals in a government hospital.

The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of psychiatric referrals in emergency O. P. D. of a teaching general hospital were studied from January 1986 to December 1987. The referral rate was 1.5%. The source, reason and purpose of referrals were studied. Hysterical fits, altered sensorium and excitements together constituted three fourth of all emergency referrals. The diagnosis of neurosis was made in one third of the patients and about one fourth of all patients were labelled as suffering from hysterical neurosis (fits being the most common presentation).