Bipolar Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bipolar, including details on bipolar disorder, symptoms, treatment, depression, medication.

Stability of the diagnosis of first-episode psychosis made in an emergency setting.

Rufino AC, Uchida RR, Vilela JA, Marques JM, Zuardi AW, Del-Ben CM

Psychiatry Division of the Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine of Santa Catarina Federal University, 88040-970 Florianópolis, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at evaluating the stability of the first psychotic episode diagnosis in the emergency context. METHODS: Fifty-nine patients were selected during a 15-month period and were followed for an average of 19.35 +/- 6.12 months. The admission and discharge emergency diagnosis were compared with the longitudinal diagnosis, obtained by the application of Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders--clinical version at the end of the follow-up. Severity rating scales (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) were applied in the emergency assessment. RESULTS: Agreement between admission emergency diagnosis and longitudinal diagnosis was unsatisfactory (k=0.25), whereas that between emergency discharge and longitudinal diagnosis was satisfactory (k=0.57). Brief psychotic disorder diagnosis presented higher sensitivity rates but low specificity, comprising several false positives. Bipolar disorder had the highest rates of specificity. CONCLUSION: Brief psychotic disorder may not be a useful concept in the emergency assessment. A short period of observation can improve emergency psychiatric diagnosis.

Published 10 May 2005 in Gen Hosp Psychiatry, 27(3): 189-93.
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