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Biomedical subjects

J R Hillard

Publications and source records attributed to J R Hillard.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Determinants of emergency psychiatric admission for adolescents and adults.

The authors compared correlates of admission for 100 patients older than 18 years and 100 patients younger than 18 evaluated in a psychiatric emergency service. Stepwise linear logistic regression analysis identified a combination of variables that best predicted the odds of hospitalization for each group. For adolescents, these variables, in order of importance, were suicidal tendencies, physical abuse, a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, age, and number of suicide attempts. For adults, the variables were delusions, aggressive behavior, suicidal tendencies, and a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia or affective disorder. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for acute psychiatric treatment of adolescents.

Adolescent↗

Geropsychiatric emergency services: utilization and outcome predictors.

Chart data on emergency room visits by elderly patients and a younger control group were examined in an exploratory study of utilization of psychiatric emergency services by the elderly and factors predictive of their subsequent admission to a psychiatric inpatient unit. Elderly patients had lower utilization of psychiatric services than their younger counterparts, but they were significantly more likely to be hospitalized following an emergency room visit. Dementia, the single most frequent diagnosis of the elderly patients, increased the likelihood of hospitalization only if it existed in combination with another psychiatric diagnosis. Medical comorbidity appeared to have no effect on whether the elderly patient was subsequently hospitalized.

Aged↗

Screening emergency room patients with atypical chest pain for depression and panic disorder.

In response to recent reports relating atypical chest pain to normal coronary arteries and to various types of psychopathology, we developed a pilot study to investigate 1) the prevalence of depression and panic disorder among patients presenting to an emergency room with atypical chest pain, and 2) what the likelihood is of an emergency room physician recognizing the psychosocial factor. Of forty-nine subjects screened, 39 percent scored positively for depressive syndrome on the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression rating scale, 43 percent met criteria for panic attack and 16 percent met criteria for panic disorder by DSM-III. Although thirty subjects (61%) screened positively for depression or panic attack, only one received a psychiatric diagnosis of any kind. This pilot study suggests: 1) that the relationship between chest pain and psychopathology in emergency room patients deserves further rigorous study; 2) that depression and panic attacks in association with atypical chest pain may be underdiagnosed by the emergency room physician; and 3) that self-report screening measures as an aid to diagnosis in this population need to be more closely investigated.

Adult↗

A retrospective study of adolescents' visits to a general hospital psychiatric emergency service.

Characteristics of 100 visits by adolescents (less than 18 years old) to a psychiatric emergency service were examined and compared with those of 100 visits by adults. Adolescents were less likely than adults to receive diagnoses of psychosis and personality disorder but more likely to receive diagnoses of adjustment and conduct disorders, were less likely to have had previous psychiatric treatment but equally likely (40%) to be in current treatment, and required more time to evaluate. Self-destructive ideation or behavior was present in 40% of the adolescents. Nearly all visits were judged to have represented genuine emergencies.

Adjustment Disorders↗

Accidental and homicidal death in a psychiatric emergency room population.

To identify potentially preventable mortality other than suicide among psychiatric emergency room patients, the authors compared the rates of accidental and homicidal death among 5,284 consecutive psychiatric emergency room patients with those expected for an age-, sex-, and race-matched sample of the general population. The rate of accidental death was two and one-half times and the rate of homicidal death nearly twice the expected rate for the matched general population. Diagnostic and demographic analyses indicated that increased risk of death from either cause was highest among alcoholics, schizophrenic patients, and males. The implications of the findings for clinical care are discussed.

Accidents↗

Bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and diabetes. Deadly combinations.

Bulimia, anorexia nervosa, and diabetes often coexist, and eating disorders among diabetics frequently go unrecognized. This combination of conditions can have life-threatening effects. Consequently, diagnosis and the medical and psychological management of these patients is of critical importance. The authors outline the complex interactions among the biologic, psychological, and social factors involved in these disorders.

Adolescent↗

Suicide in a psychiatric emergency room population.

Twenty-two suicides were identified in a series of 5,284 psychiatric emergency room patients, yielding a suicide rate of 111.1 per 100,000 "patient-years at risk"--more than seven times the age- and sex-adjusted rate for the general population. Subpopulations at high risk were white people, men, depressed and schizophrenic patients, substance abusers, and patients with multiple emergency room visits. No patients had killed themselves immediately after an emergency room visit, but several had killed themselves without following through on a referral from the emergency room to another facility for treatment. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for emergency room practice and for further research.

Adult↗

Christmas and psychopathology. Data from a psychiatric emergency room population.

It is widely believed among psychiatrists and laymen alike that Christmas and other holidays are associated with an increased incidence of psychopathology. Statistical studies, however, consistently have been shown the Christmas season to be associated with a low incidence of suicide and psychiatric hospitalization. The present study examines the number and type of visits to a 24-hour psychiatric emergency service over a seven-year period. There is a decrease in the number of visits during the days and weeks before Christmas and an increase of roughly the same magnitude afterward. The effect is more prominent for women and older persons but does not seem to differentially affect persons of different racial, marital, or diagnostic status.

Adult↗