Table 3.
Summary of the 10 primary variables
| Variable | Statistica |
|---|---|
| 1. Lab tests requested | |
| No | 115 (29) |
| Yes | 285 (71) |
| Complete blood count | 189 (47) |
| Basic metabolic panel | 163 (41) |
| Urinalysis | 100 (25) |
| Liver functions test | 119 (30) |
| Pregnancy test | 64/195 (33) |
| Cardiac panel | 9 (2) |
| Other (e.g., lithium levels, Chem-7, salicylates, acetaminophen, tricyclic antidepressants) | 202 (51) |
| 2. Urine toxicology screenb | |
| Not done/no record | 188 (47) |
| Yes (done) | 212 (53) |
| No record of results | 5 (<1) |
| Negative | 105 (26) |
| Positive | 102 (26) |
| Cocaine | 38 (9) |
| Benzodiazapines | 29 (7) |
| Tetrahydrocannabinol | 22 (6) |
| Opioid | 18 (5) |
| Ethanol | 14 (4) |
| Amphetamine | 10 (3) |
| Barbiturates | 5 (1) |
| Methadone | 3 (<1) |
| Propoxyphene | 2 (<1) |
| Phencyclidine | 2 (<1) |
| 3. Blood alcohol level conducted | |
| Not done/no record | 237 (59) |
| Yes (done) | 163 (41) |
| Not intoxicated (<0.08%) | 116 (29) |
| Intoxicated (>0.08%) | 47 (12) |
| 4. Agitation | |
| None present/no record | 190 (48) |
| Yes (present) | 210 (52) |
| Restlessness | 79 (20) |
| Violent/threatening violence | 77 (19) |
| Labile mood | 76 (19) |
| Uncooperative | 72 (18) |
| Impulsive | 71 (18) |
| Distractible | 62 (16) |
| Anger outbursts | 65 (16) |
| Rapid, loud talking | 49 (12) |
| Excessive crying/laughing | 30 (8) |
| Repetitive behavior | 23 (6) |
| Pulling at tubes, equipment, etc. | 18 (5) |
| Wandering | 16 (4) |
| Self abusiveness | 7 (2) |
| Hypervigilance | 9 (2) |
| 5. Self-harm/suicide assessment | |
| No record | 11 (3) |
| No ideation, intent or plan | 168 (42) |
| Ideation | 226 (55) |
| Intent | 87 (22) |
| Plan | 120 (30) |
| Past attempt | 131 (33) |
| This visit prompted by self-injury | 68 (17) |
| No record | 11 (3) |
| Overdose | 34 (9) |
| Cutting | 22 (5) |
| Firearm | 1 (<1) |
| Other | 20 (5) |
| 6. Other-harm/homicide assessment | |
| No record | 38 (10) |
| No ideation, intent or plan | 279 (70) |
| Ideation | 82 (20) |
| Intent | 45 (11) |
| Plan | 38 (10) |
| Past attempt | 48 (12) |
| This visit prompted by other-harm | 56 (14) |
| No record | 8 (2) |
| Threat | 30 (7) |
| Actual violence | 19 (4) |
| Other | 31 (8) |
| 7. Mood | |
| No record | 0 (0) |
| Normal | 57 (16) |
| Sad | 168 (42) |
| Anxious | 84 (21) |
| Manic | 8 (2) |
| Mixed state | 6 (2) |
| Melancholic | 5 (1) |
| Other | 134 (34) |
| 8. Medications used for agitation (initial) | |
| No/no record | 302 (75) |
| Yes | 98 (25) |
| Status | |
| No record | 39 (10) |
| Voluntary | 40 (10) |
| Involuntary | 19 (5) |
| Route | |
| No record | 5 (1) |
| Oral | 65 (16) |
| IV | 8 (2) |
| IM | 20 (5) |
| Response | |
| No record | 39 (10) |
| Good | 43 (11) |
| Fair | 12 (3) |
| Poor | 4 (1) |
| Adverse events | |
| No/no record | 98 (25) |
| 9. Physical restraints used | |
| No/no record | 378 (95) |
| Yes | 22 (6) |
| Adverse events | |
| No/no record | 22 (6) |
| Duration | |
| No record, or only start or end recorded | 9 (2) |
| Recorded (start and end) | 13 (3) |
| hh:mm (median, IQR) (n=13) | 4:15 (2:05–7:35) |
| 10. Admitted to inpatient/observation unit | |
| No | 221 (55) |
| Yes | 179 (45) |
| No record | 2 (<1) |
| Medical | 14 (4) |
| Standard psychiatric | 141 (35) |
| Psychiatric observation unit | 12 (3) |
| Substance abuse/detoxification unit | 10 (3) |
| Status | |
| No record | 33 (8) |
| Voluntary | 63 (16) |
| Involuntary | 83 (21) |
N=400.
a
Count (proportion), unless otherwise specified.
b
All sites screened for benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine and opiates, with six having a specific test for methadone and three for propoxyphene. Seven sites screened for amphetamines and barbiturates. Six sites screened for phencyclidine, and two screened for ethanol.