ABSTRACT
Materials and methods: A random sample of 439 patients charts, corresponding to 3 percent of all consultations during 1994, were analyzed. The results were compared with consultations during 1998, analyzed in a previous study. Results: During 1994, patients were older, came alone to the emergency wards and consulted during the night with greater frequency than during 1988. In both years psychosis were the main cause of consultation. Compared to 1988, during 1994 there was an increase in the frequency of affective disorders (16 and 12 percent of all consultations respectively) and substance abuse (15 and 3 percent respectively). Conclusions: The increase in consultations due to affective disorders and substance abuse in 1994 is in accordance with changes in the epidemiological profile of psychiatric disorders in Santiago