LAUSR

The incurred mental alteration of a traveler abroad should be an alarming signal for patient, for family and the local health care professionals alike. it is estimated that 11.3% of travelers experience some kind of psychiatric problem, with 2.5% suffering from severe psychosis and 1.2% requiring more than two months of therapy upon return from a trip abroad. Acute psychotic episode represent approximately one-fifth of travel-related psychiatric events. Yet, the travel related mental problems have been neglected topic till today. Now a good selection of literature is available to help the further researches. Besides describing the most relevant literature of travel related mental disturbances, authors present two key issues of dealing with psychiatric problems of traveler abroad: to identify the origin of the mental alteration and the process of the patient with psychiatric problems. Identifying the origin and the nature of the mental symptomps of traveler is often difficult because of the language barrier and among extraordinary circumstances. A simple 2 steps 3 branches algorythm could make the decision easier for the attending physician. Some of the brief psychotic disorder and organic origin mental disturbance can and often is treated in place. Some mental problem probably originated or triggered by the travel or a foreign environment itself. In these cases the full recovery will be expected if the triggering factor is eliminated. The solution is the early repatriation. The repatriation for psychiatric reasons is highly different from repatriation for other medical emergencies. Authors describes a proposal of a step-by-step action of repatriation of psychotic patient. By the help of this suggested protocol, the patient may successfully be taken home.