TRANSFER OF PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS TO A GENERAL-HOSPITAL DUE TO ADVERSE DRUG-REACTIONS

The authors review their experience with transfers of hospitalized psy chiatric inpatients to general hospitals because of adverse drug react ions (ADRs). A total of 29 medical transfers related to ADRs were foun d in a review of 10,994 psychiatric inpatient admissions that occurred in a 30-month period between 1990 and 1993 (0.264%). Most cases invol ved neurological syndromes (76%), particularly delirium (31%). Low-pot ency antipsychotic agents were most frequently implicated (31%). Most ADRs were of moderate severity, but 8 cases required medical hospitali zation (0.07% incidence). These findings indicate that ADRs leading to transfer of hospitalized psychiatric patients to a general medical fa cility were infrequent (<0.3% of psychiatric admissions) and rarely le d to medical hospitalization (<0.1%).