Patterns and Predictors of Psychiatric Emergency Admissions: A 5-Year Multicenter Retrospective Study from Turkey

Background The global rise in psychiatric emergencies has placed increasing pressure on emergency departments (EDs), yet region-specific data remain scarce. This study aims to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics of adults admitted to psychiatric inpatient care through EDs over a five-year period in a Turkish metropolitan region. Methods A retrospective observational analysis was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Kayseri, Türkiye, covering psychiatric admissions from January 2015 to December 2020. Sociodemographic and clinical data were retrieved from electronic health records. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and binary logistic regression. Results A total of 773 patients were included. Anxiety disorders (42%) were the most frequent diagnoses, followed by bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Logistic regression identified male gender, substance use, night-time ED visits, and admission to addiction-focused services as predictors of discharge against medical advice (p < 0.05). Conclusion This study highlights key demographic and clinical trends in psychiatric emergency admissions in Türkiye. The findings underscore the importance of developing targeted ED protocols that address substance-related crises and improve retention in care. Local insights can support national efforts to optimize psychiatric emergency systems.