Correlates of Re-hospitalization and Dis-engagement During the First Three Years of Psychotic Illness, in a Psychiatric Facility in Abu Dhabi, UAE

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe potential precipitants of re-hospitalization and dis-engagement during the first three years of diagnosing a psychotic episode, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). A retrospective cohort study that included 56 patients, with the first episode of psychosis (FEP). 55.4% of the sample were men, 52% were single, 80% were of Arab ethnicity, and 50% were unemployed. The mean age was 29.51 years old. 42% had non-affective psychosis. During the first three years of psychosis, more than three-quarters of FEP patients were re-hospitalized. The rate of service disengagement was 64.8%. Bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia patients had a higher re-hospitalization rate compared to patients with other diagnoses (<i>p</i><0.001). Re-hospitalization was significantly higher for males and single patients (<i>p</i>=0.047). There was no significant correlation between re-hospitalization and the length of hospital stay, with the period of untreated psychosis, or with age at onset. Being single was the only significant correlate with service dis-engagement (<i>p</i><0.001). Single status (<i>p</i>=0.038) and Non-smoking (<i>p</i>=0.008) were the only significant correlate with re-engagement. We concluded that re-hospitalization and dis-engagement rates were high in Abu Dhabi, and the predictors were unmodifiable factors such as gender, marital status, and psychiatric diagnoses. The findings of this study could be used to develop future services, such as establishing dedicated assertive intervention programs for patients after their first episode of psychosis to improve treatment outcomes.