Characteristics of frequent users of an acute psychiatric inpatient unit: a five-year study in Portugal.

Graça, J; Klut, C; Trancas, B; Borja-Santos, N; Cardoso, G

Publication

Characteristics of frequent users of an acute psychiatric inpatient unit: a five-year study in Portugal.

2013Journal article

dc.contributor.author	Graça, J
dc.contributor.author	Klut, C
dc.contributor.author	Trancas, B
dc.contributor.author	Borja-Santos, N
dc.contributor.author	Cardoso, G
dc.date.accessioned	2014-03-25T16:15:50Z
dc.date.available	2014-03-25T16:15:50Z
dc.date.issued	2013
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVE: This study examined demographic and clinical characteristics of frequent users of a psychiatric inpatient unit in Portugal. METHODS: Data (2004-2008) for 1,348 consecutive psychiatric inpatients were reviewed. Frequent users (N=137), who had at least three admissions in the study period, were compared with nonfrequent users (N=1,211) on age, gender, race-ethnicity, diagnosis, and compulsory admissions. Data were analyzed with chi square and Student's t tests. RESULTS: Frequent users accounted for 29% of admissions. They were significantly younger than nonfrequent users (39±14 versus 44±17, p<.001), and a larger proportion had compulsory admissions (28% versus 14%, p<.001). The frequent user group also had significantly higher rates of bipolar disorder (61% versus 46%, p<.001) and schizophrenia (29% versus 18%, p<.003). CONCLUSIONS: Understanding characteristics of frequent users can inform development of appropriate services. Research should address other variables related to frequent admissions, including socioeconomic factors, general medical and psychiatric comorbidities, and treatment compliance.	por
dc.identifier.citation	Psychiatr Serv. 2013 Feb 1;64(2):192-5	por
dc.identifier.issn	1557-9700
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10400.10/1122
dc.language.iso	eng	por
dc.peerreviewed	yes	por
dc.publisher	American Psychiatric Association	por
dc.relation.publisherversion	http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/data/Journals/PSS/926272/192.pdf	por
dc.subject	Perturbações mentais	por
dc.subject	Doentes internados	por
dc.subject	Reinternamento do doente	por
dc.subject	Portugal	por
dc.subject	Mental disorders	por
dc.subject	Inpatients	por
dc.subject	Patient readmission	por
dc.title	Characteristics of frequent users of an acute psychiatric inpatient unit: a five-year study in Portugal.	por
dc.type	journal article
dspace.entity.type	Publication
oaire.citation.conferencePlace	Washington, DC	por
oaire.citation.endPage	195	por
oaire.citation.startPage	192	por
oaire.citation.title	Psychiatric services : a journal of the American Psychiatric Association	por
oaire.citation.volume	64	por
rcaap.rights	openAccess	por
rcaap.type	article	por