Abstract
BackgroundIndividuals with schizophrenia who are involuntarily admitted may have poorer prognosis, including higher readmission rates, than those voluntarily admitted. However, little is known about the risk factors for readmission in those schizophrenia patients who are involuntarily admitted.AimsWe aim to explore the risk factors for readmission in this population.MethodWe enrolled 138 schizophrenia patients with involuntary admission from July 2008 to June 2013 and followed those patients for readmission outcomes at 3 months and at 1 year.ResultsThe one-year and 3-months readmission rates were 33.3% and 15.2%, respectively. Unmarried status (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 6.28, 95% CI: 1.48–26.62), previous history of involuntary admission (aOR = 4.08, 95% CI: 1.19–14.02), longer involuntary admission days (aOR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.07) and shorter total admission days (aOR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05) were associated with increased risk for 1-year readmission. Younger age (aOR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.02–1.18) was associated with increased risk for 3-months readmission.ConclusionsUnmarried status, prior history of involuntary admission, longer involuntary admission days and shorter total admission days were associated with increased risk for 1-year readmission. Healthcare providers may need to focus on patients with these risk factors to reduce subsequent readmissions.
Highlights
The involuntary admission and treatment of mentally ill patients are central issues in mental health care, relating to long-lasting ethical debates between mentally ill persons’ need to receive treatment and the massive impact upon their rights and freedom
Unmarried status (adjusted odds ratio = 6.28, 95% CI: 1.48–26.62), previous history of involuntary admission, longer involuntary admission days and shorter total admission days were associated with increased risk for 1-year readmission
Prior history of involuntary admission, longer involuntary admission days and shorter total admission days were associated with increased risk for 1-year readmission
Summary
The involuntary admission and treatment of mentally ill patients are central issues in mental health care, relating to long-lasting ethical debates between mentally ill persons’ need to receive treatment and the massive impact upon their rights and freedom. Previous studies have indicated that patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders [7,8,9,10], especially schizophrenia [11,12,13], are more likely to be involuntarily admitted. With schizophrenia, readmission is one of the key indicators for future disease prognosis [14], and individuals with an involuntary admission may have higher readmission rates and be more likely to be readmitted compulsorily in the future [15, 16]. Given the massive impact of involuntary admission on the person’s liberty as well as the huge costs inflicted on the person and society related to subsequent readmissions, data regarding readmission and the related risk factors in this population are urgently needed. Little is known about the risk factors for readmission in those schizophrenia patients who are involuntarily admitted
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