Patterns and determinants of acute psychiatric readmissions

摘要: Objectives . Deinstitutionalisation and shortage of psychiatric beds worldwide has led to extensive research into the risk fac- tors interventions associated with rapid recurrent admission hospital. Little this nature taken place in South Africa, particularly regard acute hospital admissions. This study attempted primarily assess effect length stay administration depot antipsychotics on time readmission. Design A retrospective cohort 180 admissions was fol- lowed up for 12 months, after an index discharge, by means multiple community-based record reviews. Each readmission analysed as event using a survival analysis model. Setting Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Gauteng. Subjects random sample patients admitted during 6-month period 1996. Outcome measures. Time Results Two hundred eighty-four were analysed. The only factor that provided significant protective being married or cohabiting ( P = 0.015). Clinic attendance showed slight early but con- ferred significantly higher those who had been out long 0.001). Only 21% discharged ever attended clinic. overall first 90 days post discharge. Conclusions lack impact use neuroleptics may indicate are kept appropriate duration most ill receiving medication. Several sampling statistical artefacts explain some our findings. These results confirm difficulty finding consistent accurate predictors Low rates successful referral community aftercare need be addressed before their effectiveness can reasonably assessed. inherent instability post-discharge is potential area further investigation intensive management.