Psychiatric emergencies are acute disturbances in thought, behavior or mood which require immediate medical intervention. As a substantial number of patients with mental illness present as psychiatric emergencies, the sustainability and management of psychiatric emergency services becomes significant.

In this study we aimed to examine the factors associated with psychiatric emergency care, taking the boarding time in the emergency department as primary outcome measure.

Charts of 466 psychiatric emergency cases admitted to the Hacettepe University Emergency Department (ED) between December 2018 – September 2019 were evaluated. Boarding time (BT) in the ED, presence of self-harm, psychotic symptoms and agitation were noted.

In the examined period, number of patients admitted increased with time significantly (r= 0.562, p <0.01). However, increase in the number of patients was not correlated with an increase in BT. Patients with psychotic symptoms had greater BT compared to non-psychotic patients (7.01 hours vs. 11.24 hours, T= -2.796 df = 182.717 p <0.01). Patients with self-harm also had greater BT (7.47 hours vs. 9.85 hours, T = -2.013 df = 433 p <0.05). Patients with self-harm in relation with previous suicidal ideation displayed significantly a longer BT when compared with patients admitted due to self-harm without any suicidal plan (U=2572,5 p<0.01).

A significant increase in BT with psychosis and self-harm due to a suicidal plan supports the need of intermediate facilities between the ED and inpatient units, as such facilities would create a positive impact in the care of psychotic and suicidal patients.