Trends in psychiatric emergency visits: insights from France’s largest psychiatric emergency department
Abstract Introduction Psychiatric emergency departments (EDs) in France have been under pressure from several factors, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to an increase in psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, with younger people and women being most affecte...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00810-w |
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| author | Marine Ambar Akkaoui David Barruel Valérie Dauriac-Le Masson Raphael Gourevitch Alexandra Pham-Scottez |
| author_facet | Marine Ambar Akkaoui David Barruel Valérie Dauriac-Le Masson Raphael Gourevitch Alexandra Pham-Scottez |
| author_sort | Marine Ambar Akkaoui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Psychiatric emergency departments (EDs) in France have been under pressure from several factors, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to an increase in psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, with younger people and women being most affected. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of the trends in the number of visits to the largest psychiatric emergency department in France, with a particular focus on the period preceding and following the advent of COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from 69,764 visits to the Centre Psychiatrique d’Orientation et d’Accueil (CPOA) in Paris from 2016 to 2023. Patient data, including demographics, reasons for visit, and diagnoses, were collected and analyzed to identify trends over this period. Results The study observed a 28.5% increase in ED visits from 2016 to 2023. The increase was primarily driven by mood and anxiety disorders, which showed increases of 38.6% and 75.4%, respectively. The average age of patients decreased, reflecting a younger population increasingly affected by psychiatric problems. Interestingly, despite the increase in ED visits, hospital admissions decreased by 11.9%, with a notable decrease in involuntary commitment. Discussion The findings highlight a paradox where increased psychiatric ED visits are not accompanied by an increase in hospital admissions. This suggests a shift toward outpatient care due to systemic factors, including reduced hospital bed availability and challenges in accessing timely outpatient services. This study underscores the need to strengthen outpatient mental health services to effectively manage the growing demand. Further research, especially multicenter studies, is recommended to validate these findings and inform policy changes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9d43d337fc4c4a7ab935a6b5875258af |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1865-1380 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-9d43d337fc4c4a7ab935a6b5875258af2025-01-19T12:08:48ZengBMCInternational Journal of Emergency Medicine1865-13802025-01-0118111010.1186/s12245-025-00810-wTrends in psychiatric emergency visits: insights from France’s largest psychiatric emergency departmentMarine Ambar Akkaoui0David Barruel1Valérie Dauriac-Le Masson2Raphael Gourevitch3Alexandra Pham-Scottez4Centre Psychiatrique d’Orientation Et d’Accueil (CPOA), GHU Paris Psychiatrie Et Neurosciences, Site Sainte-AnneDépartement d’Information Médicale, GHU Paris Psychiatrie Et NeurosciencesDépartement d’Information Médicale, GHU Paris Psychiatrie Et NeurosciencesCentre Psychiatrique d’Orientation Et d’Accueil (CPOA), GHU Paris Psychiatrie Et Neurosciences, Site Sainte-AnneCentre Psychiatrique d’Orientation Et d’Accueil (CPOA), GHU Paris Psychiatrie Et Neurosciences, Site Sainte-AnneAbstract Introduction Psychiatric emergency departments (EDs) in France have been under pressure from several factors, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic led to an increase in psychiatric disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, with younger people and women being most affected. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive description of the trends in the number of visits to the largest psychiatric emergency department in France, with a particular focus on the period preceding and following the advent of COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This retrospective study analyzed data from 69,764 visits to the Centre Psychiatrique d’Orientation et d’Accueil (CPOA) in Paris from 2016 to 2023. Patient data, including demographics, reasons for visit, and diagnoses, were collected and analyzed to identify trends over this period. Results The study observed a 28.5% increase in ED visits from 2016 to 2023. The increase was primarily driven by mood and anxiety disorders, which showed increases of 38.6% and 75.4%, respectively. The average age of patients decreased, reflecting a younger population increasingly affected by psychiatric problems. Interestingly, despite the increase in ED visits, hospital admissions decreased by 11.9%, with a notable decrease in involuntary commitment. Discussion The findings highlight a paradox where increased psychiatric ED visits are not accompanied by an increase in hospital admissions. This suggests a shift toward outpatient care due to systemic factors, including reduced hospital bed availability and challenges in accessing timely outpatient services. This study underscores the need to strengthen outpatient mental health services to effectively manage the growing demand. Further research, especially multicenter studies, is recommended to validate these findings and inform policy changes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00810-wPsychiatric emergenciesEmergency departmentPsychiatric hospitalizationCOVID-19Psychiatric disorders |
| spellingShingle | Marine Ambar Akkaoui David Barruel Valérie Dauriac-Le Masson Raphael Gourevitch Alexandra Pham-Scottez Trends in psychiatric emergency visits: insights from France’s largest psychiatric emergency department International Journal of Emergency Medicine Psychiatric emergencies Emergency department Psychiatric hospitalization COVID-19 Psychiatric disorders |
| title | Trends in psychiatric emergency visits: insights from France’s largest psychiatric emergency department |
| title_full | Trends in psychiatric emergency visits: insights from France’s largest psychiatric emergency department |
| title_fullStr | Trends in psychiatric emergency visits: insights from France’s largest psychiatric emergency department |
| title_full_unstemmed | Trends in psychiatric emergency visits: insights from France’s largest psychiatric emergency department |
| title_short | Trends in psychiatric emergency visits: insights from France’s largest psychiatric emergency department |
| title_sort | trends in psychiatric emergency visits insights from france s largest psychiatric emergency department |
| topic | Psychiatric emergencies Emergency department Psychiatric hospitalization COVID-19 Psychiatric disorders |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00810-w |
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