Several factors may predict adherence with adherence with follow-up appointment for patients seen in the emergency department by liaison psychiatric teams. Awareness of these factors would allow for interventions targeted at vulnerable groups.

To examine the factors which could predict adherence with psychiatric follow-up appointments for patients assessed in the ED by the liaison psychiatric team.

The records of all patients assessed over a three month period by the liaison psychiatric team in the emergency department of Beaumont Hospital who were then referred for follow-up were examined for relevant demographic and clinical variables. Phone contact was then made with the centres to which patients had been referred to confirm the appointments made and if the patients had attended follow-up appointments. The data was analysed with SPSS (version 17).

Overall, only 55.9% of the patients were found to have attended their follow-up appointments with lrsquo;known to psychiatric services’ being the only statistically significant predictor of adherence. Patients’ who were single, separated, divorced or widowed and those who had consumed alcohol before an act of deliberate self-ham were more likely to attend follow-up appointments compared with those who were either married or cohabiting and those who did not consumed alcohol respectively. However these were not statistically significant when controlling for other predictors.

Patients who are not known to psychiatric services prior to assessment in the emergency department may need a more proactive outreach if compliance with psychiatric follow-up appointments is to be improved.