Factors associated to urgent referral in a mental health center

Abstract

Introduction. In this paper we analyze the factors related with the urgent referral.

Method. We analyze a sample of 718 patients who were seen for an initial medical visit during a one year period in a community mental health center (418 of whom were urgent patients and 300 programmed patients). Variables associated to the referral process, clinical variables and social adjustment are studied.

Results and conclusions. The urgent medical visit is associated to clinical importance, to people previously seen in the health system, to initiative by others and not by the patient, to diseases that cause dysfunction in the sociofamiliar environment, and to the subjective loneliness feeling. The data show very little agreement between the clinician in the mental health center and referral doctor evaluation.