TY  - JOUR
PY  - 1991//
TI  - Drug overdoses seen in the emergency department. Assessment, disposition, and follow-up
JO  - Annals of clinical psychiatry
A1  - Stern, T.A.
A1  - Gross, P.L.
A1  - Pollack, M.H.
A1  - Browne, B.J.
A1  - Mahoney, J.D.
A1  - Alpert, H.R.
A1  - Reder, V.
A1  - Mulley, A.G.
SP  - 223
EP  - 231
VL  - 3
IS  - 3
N2  - Data were collected during a 3-month period on 177 consecutive cases of drug overdose (OD) evaluated in the emergency department (ED). Fifty-three percent of the patients were alert, 22% were lethargic, 15% were agitated, 7% were stuporous, and 3% were comatose. Sixty-six percent admitted that they were trying to either kill or harm themselves while 18% stated that their intent was to get high. The most commonly detected primary drugs confirmed by toxic screen were benzodiazepines (23%), alcohol (21%), non-narcotic analgesics (20%), antidepressants (10%), and barbituates (7%). Forty-seven percent of the patients were admitted to a hospital for further care - 28% to psychiatry, 14% to medicine, 3% to pediatrics, and 1% to surgery. Follow-up data were obtained on 79% a mean of 42 days after their ED visit. Only one death occurred; it was the result of acute complications from an antidepressant OD during the admission for the index ED visit. Two OD readmissions were noted for a recidivism rate of 3%. In our ED population, the serious medical complications of drug OD occurred in a minority of patients (16% or less), although admission to the hospital was often required. Although the short-term recidivism rate was low, the escalating trend towards suicide and drug OD in adolescents and young adults demands careful assessment in the ED.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1040-1237
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10401239109147995
ID  - ref1
ER  -