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Background: Many patients admitted to general emergency departments (EDs) have a pattern of drinking that could lead to future alcohol-related complications. However, it is often difficult to screen these patients in the context of emergency. The aim of this study is to analyze whether reasons for admission could help to screen patients who have an unhealthy alcohol use. Method: Patients were recruited among six public hospital ED in France, between 2012 and 2014. During a one-month period in each hospital, anonymous questionnaires including sociodemographic questions, AUDIT-C and RAPS4-QF were administered to each patients visiting the ED. The reason for admission of each patient was noted at the end of their questionnaire by the ED practitioner. Results: Ten thousand Four hundred twenty-one patients were included in the analysis. Patients who came to the ED for injuries and mental disorders were more likely to report unhealthy alcohol use than non-harmful use or no use. Among male patients under 65  years old admitted to the ED for a mental disorder, 24.2% drank more than four drinks (40  g ethanol) in typical day at least four time a week in the last 12  months. Among these patients, 79.7% reported daily or almost daily heavy episodic drinking (HED, 60  g ethanol), and all were positive on the RAPS4-QF. Conclusion: This study highlights that unhealthy alcohol use is frequent among ED patients and particularly among those who come for injuries or mental disorders. Men under 65  years old with a mental disorder require special attention because of their increased prevalence of daily or almost daily HED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 33-year-old male presented with recurrent outbreaks of perioral herpes of disfiguring nature that remained unresolved following therapy. The first perioral outbreak occurred following a road accident. The psychiatric interview conducted with the patient suggested post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) secondary to the accident. Venlafaxine 50 mg/day was initiated and led to resolution of the PTSD symptoms within 8 weeks. The patient did not experience any further herpes outbreaks for about 10 months. Control of stress disorders in recurrent herpes is discussed from a therapeutic perspective.