Gender differences in the management of acute psychiatric episodes in the emergency department: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2017–2019 triennium

There is growing evidence that gender is an important determinant of mental health and well-being. In this sense, both biological and socio-economic factors play a key role in how people experience psychological disturbances. This study examine whether there were sex- and gender-based differences in the management of psychiatric disorders in the emergency department (ED). A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted in the ED over the 2017–2019 period. Sex was codified as female/male and socio-economic deprivation index was compiled to address the impact of social determinants. Episodes were reclassified according to four major clusters. Psychotropic drug prescription was categorized according to the ATC classification. Poisson regression models, adjusted for age and socioeconomic status, were used. A total of 9789 episodes (53.9% females) of individuals who required an acute-related psychiatric intervention were retrieved. Age distribution and socioeconomic quintiles revealed gender differences. Anxiety-related consultations accounted for up to 50% of all episodes. Female gender was found to be overrepresented in anxiety and stress-related disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders. In contrast, Males accounted for 70% of all psychoactive substance use disorders. Considering main clinical syndromic clusters, analysis showed that female patients were more likely to be prescribed with anxiolytic treatment in ED treatment than men in the categories of “Common mental disorders” (PR = 1.122 [1.014–1.242; p = 0.025), “Severe Mental Disorders” (PR = 1.217[1.054–1.406] p = 0.007) and “Personality disorders” (PR = 1.398 (1.038 – 1.884); p = 0.028). This study highlights the relevance of considering sex and gender as potential determinants in both the clinical presentation and management of psychiatric emergencies.