Evolving trends in psychiatric emergency services in Southern China: a seven-year retrospective analysis
Dublin Core
Title
Evolving trends in psychiatric emergency services in Southern China: a seven-year retrospective analysis
Subject
Psychiatric emergency services, Evolving trends, Mental health services, Retrospective analysis, China
Description
Abstract
Background The Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University is an important provider of psychiatric
emergency services (PES) in southern China. Revealing the evolution trend of the psychiatric emergency services of
this hospital can help decision-makers formulate relevant policies. However, at present, there is a lack of large-scale,
long-term retrospective studies.
Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patient records from the psychiatric emergency room (PER) of
the Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University. Data included demographic and clinical variables were
aggregated annually and described using percentages from 2018 to 2024. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were
used to confirm significance of the trends.
Results More voluntary health-seeking behaviors, broader medical insurance coverage, more cautious use of
restraint measures, and more precise diagnoses were observed from 2018 to 2024. Besides, there were an increasing
number of younger, highly educated, unmarried, and unemployed visitors. We also found that the gender gap
is widening and medical resources are increasingly strained. There are differences between judicial and medical
personnel in making compulsory decisions. During Covid-19, the demographic and clinical variables show significant
changes.
Conclusions PES in southern China have developed to a certain extent, but they are also confronted with obstacles
at the same time. These trends underscore the need for enhanced referral systems, expanded community-based
psychiatric care, ethical guidelines for managing coercive measures and strengthening the response strategies for
public event crises.
Keywords Psychiatric emergency services, Evolving trends, Mental health services, Retrospective analysis, China
Background The Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University is an important provider of psychiatric
emergency services (PES) in southern China. Revealing the evolution trend of the psychiatric emergency services of
this hospital can help decision-makers formulate relevant policies. However, at present, there is a lack of large-scale,
long-term retrospective studies.
Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patient records from the psychiatric emergency room (PER) of
the Affiliated Brain Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University. Data included demographic and clinical variables were
aggregated annually and described using percentages from 2018 to 2024. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact test were
used to confirm significance of the trends.
Results More voluntary health-seeking behaviors, broader medical insurance coverage, more cautious use of
restraint measures, and more precise diagnoses were observed from 2018 to 2024. Besides, there were an increasing
number of younger, highly educated, unmarried, and unemployed visitors. We also found that the gender gap
is widening and medical resources are increasingly strained. There are differences between judicial and medical
personnel in making compulsory decisions. During Covid-19, the demographic and clinical variables show significant
changes.
Conclusions PES in southern China have developed to a certain extent, but they are also confronted with obstacles
at the same time. These trends underscore the need for enhanced referral systems, expanded community-based
psychiatric care, ethical guidelines for managing coercive measures and strengthening the response strategies for
public event crises.
Keywords Psychiatric emergency services, Evolving trends, Mental health services, Retrospective analysis, China
Creator
Cuiling Zhang1,2†, Suiyun Weng1,2†, Xiaoyu Zhang1,3, Songkang Liu1,2, Min Yu1,2* and Miaoling Jiang1,2*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-025-00904-5
Date
2025
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Cuiling Zhang1,2†, Suiyun Weng1,2†, Xiaoyu Zhang1,3, Songkang Liu1,2, Min Yu1,2* and Miaoling Jiang1,2*, “Evolving trends in psychiatric emergency services in Southern China: a seven-year retrospective analysis,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12810.