Abnormal Laboratory Findings in Emergently Injected Psychiatric Inpatients: A Preliminary Report

Woo, Young Sup; Lee, Won Hee; Chae, Jeong Ho; Jun, Tae Youn; Bahk, Won Myong

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Psychiatric patients often require emergency injection and they are sometimes received psychotropic medication injection before the completion of a medical history and laboratory studies. The aim of this study is to find out laboratory differences between patients with severe psychomotor agitation who were injected emergently and those who were not.
METHODS
Medical records of all patients 18 years or older admitted to psychiatric unit were reviewed. Subjects in this study were patients who showed psychotic symptoms, psychomotor agitation or violent behavior within 7 hospital days. Demographic and laboratory variables were compared between injected and non-injected patients.
RESULTS
One hundred twenty three patients were included. Twenty seven patients received emergency injection and ninety six patients didn't receive. Patients received emergency injection had lower platelet count (p<0.01), and potassium level (p<0.05) and higher electrocardiogram QTc interval (p<0.05). They are also more likely to have abnormal levels of platelet count (p<0.05), and creatine phosphokinase (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
Emergently injected patients in the psychiatry service were more likely to have abnormal laboratory results before injection. These findings suggest that patients who need emergency injection may have additional physical problems which require further medical attention. Therefore before injection, we consider that emergently injected patients may have risks.