Psychiatric Admissions Research Articles

Patient Experiences of Patient-Initiated Brief Admission in Psychiatric Care: A Systematic Review.

Patient-initiated brief admission (PIBA) is an innovative psychiatric care intervention that gives patients the autonomy to initiate a short admission (approximately 1-3 days) to psychiatric inpatient care. This intervention is structured around a mutual agreement between the patient and their care provider that outlines the specific structure and content of their care. Unlike regular psychiatric admissions, healthcare professionals do not review the patient's decision for admission during PIBA. Similar interventions have been developed globally to reduce the need for long inpatient admissions and compulsory care by enhancing patient autonomy, promoting active participation in care, and empowering patients to recognise early signs of mental health deterioration. The objective of this systematic review was to explore the experiences of PIBA among individuals with mental health disorders. A systematic review was conducted using qualitative articles sourced from the PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. A total of thirteen original articles were included in the review, encompassing 186 patients. Research demonstrates that PIBA significantly impacts patients' care experiences in various ways. Access to PIBA gives patients the opportunity to take a break from daily stressors, which has proven significant in interrupting the cycle of worsening symptoms and negative thoughts. Furthermore, when the care environment is characterised by trust and respect, patients experience an increased sense of freedom, which contributes to a more effective recovery process. PIBA provides patients with a sense of safety and offers the possibility of a more functional daily life. Healthcare professionals'attitude and care provision also significantly influences patients' experiences. Central to a positive patient experience are a warm reception, attentiveness, and active listening. PIBA can not only change patients' perceptions of healthcare but, more importantly, fosters a transformative view of themselves as active participants in their own well-being. Knowledgeable healthcare professionals are crucial for the successful implementation of this intervention. By offering dignity and warmth alongside safety, PIBA addresses a critical gap in patient mental health care.

Does the gender of emergency physicians have an impact on the prehospital care of psychiatric emergencies? a retrospective cohort analysis

BackgroundPsychiatric emergencies pose a special challenge for emergency physicians. It is known from other areas of medicine that the influence of a doctor’s gender can have an impact on the type of treatment and quality of patient care. However, this has not yet been investigated in the context of prehospital care in psychiatric emergencies.ObjectivesTo identify whether the gender of the prehospital emergency physicians has an influence on the “on-scene” time, treatment strategy and on the potential escalation of interventions for patients with a psychiatric diagnosis.MethodsA retrospective cohort analysis of emergency missions with a psychiatric diagnosis was performed between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2021 at the Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Germany.Results2882 emergency missions with a psychiatric indication/prehospital psychiatric diagnosis were studied and divided into: intoxication (n = 1343, 46.6%), suicidal behavior (n = 488, 16.9%), exceptional mental situation (n = 282, 9.8%), agitation (n = 262, 9.1%), anxiety and panic disorders (n = 262, 9.1%) and “psychiatric miscellaneous” (n = 245, 8.5%). Inpatient hospitalization occurred in 67.9% (n = 1958) of emergency missions. Of these, 20.3% (n = 392) were admitted directly to a psychiatric hospital. Male emergency physicians had a slightly longer "on-scene" time for psychiatric emergencies than female emergency physicians (p = 0.024). However, the variance in "on-scene" time for all interventions was significantly greater for female emergency physicians than for male emergency physicians (p = 0.025). Male emergency physicians were significantly more likely than their female counterparts to administer intravenous hypnotics in prehospital psychiatric emergencies (p = 0.001). For psychiatric patients who refused medically indicated inpatient psychiatric admission (“involuntary psychiatric admission”), male and female emergency physicians were equally likely to take the required action (p = 0.522). However, male emergency physicians were significantly more likely to administer an intravenous hypnotic to enforce involuntary admission (p = 0.009).ConclusionsSimilar to other medical specialties where the influence of physician gender on patient care is certainly relevant, the gender of prehospital emergency physicians also appears to influence their prehospital management strategy in psychiatric emergencies. The influence of gender is sometimes subtle and limited to specific aspects, such as the administration of hypnotics. Prospective study designs are needed to thoroughly investigate the influence of the gender of the prehospital emergency physician on the quality of care in psychiatric emergencies.Trial registrationThe study was approved by the ethics committee of the University Ulm, Trial-Code No. 110/22 and was prospectively registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00031237). Patient information was not required for retrospective data analysis.

Association of circulating monocyte number and monocyte–lymphocyte ratio with cardiovascular disease in patients with bipolar disorder

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of excessive and premature mortality in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Despite immune cells participating considerably in the pathogenesis of CVD, limited data are available regarding leukocyte phenotypes in patients with BD and CVD. This study aimed to evaluate associations between circulating leukocyte subset and CVD among patients with BD.MethodsA total of 109 patients with BD-I and cardiologist-confirmed CVD diagnosis (i.e., case) were matched with 109 BD-I patients without CVD (i.e., control) according to the age (± 2 years), sex, and date of most recent psychiatric admission because of acute mood episode (± 2 years). Leukocyte subset data were retrieved from complete blood count tests performed on the next morning after the most recent acute psychiatric admission.ResultsDuring the most recent acute psychiatric hospitalization, circulating monocyte counts in the case group were significantly higher than those in the age- and sex-matched controls (p = 0.020). In addition, monocyte–lymphocyte ratios (MLRs) in the case group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p = 0.032). Multiple logistic regression showed that together with serum levels of uric acid and manic symptoms, circulating monocyte counts (95% CI, OR: 1.01–1.05) and MLRs (95% CI, OR: 1.01–1.09) were significantly associated with CVD in patients with BD, respectively.ConclusionsMonocyte activation in an acute manic episode may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of CVD among patients with BD. Future research is required to investigate markers of monocyte activation and indices of cardiovascular structure and function across the different mood states of BD.

Patterns of psychiatric admissions across two major health crises: L' Aquila earthquake and COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

This study examined psychiatric hospitalisation patterns in San Salvatore Hospital in L' Aquila (Italy), during two major crises: the 2009 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The investigation spans two four-year periods, from 2008 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2022, with a focus on the trimester around the earthquake and the first wave/lockdown of the pandemic. We analysed weekly psychiatric unit admissions of adults diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, major depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol/substance use disorder. Four-year periods around the Earthquake and COVID-19 Lockdown were divided into sixteen trimesters, and Generalised linear models were used to analyse the relationship between weekly hospitalisation frequency and trimesters by diagnosis using a Poisson distribution. A total of 1195 and 1085 patients were admitted to the psychiatric ward in the 2008-2011 and 2019-2022 periods, respectively. Weekly hospitalisations in the earthquake trimester were lower than during the previous one for all diagnoses (schizophrenia spectrum: -41.9%, p = 0.040; major depression: -56.7%, p = 0.046; bipolar disorder: -69.1%, p = 0.011; alcohol/substance use disorder: -92.3%, p = 0.013). This reduction persisted for 21, 18, and 33 months after the earthquake for schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar, and alcohol/substance use disorders, respectively. Contrarily, patterns of weekly admissions around the COVID-19 lockdown remained substantially stable in the short term. However, a consistent long-term hospitalisation increase for all diagnoses characterised the first half of 2022 (the cessation of anti-COVID-19 measures; schizophrenia spectrum: +68.6%, p = 0.014; major depression: +133.3%, p = 0.033; bipolar disorder: +180.0%, p = 0.034; alcohol/substance use disorder: +475.0%, p = 0.001). The present study indicated that exposure to major health crises can have both short- and long-term effects on psychiatric ward admission, holding significant implications for current and future major health emergency management strategies.

The Impact of COVID‐19 Lockdown and Post‐Lockdown Period on Acute Psychiatric Admissions for Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic negatively impacted the mental health of people with emotionally unstable personality disorder (EUPD), with reports of maladaptive coping mechanisms, reduced mental health support and quality of life. In this study, the authors examine the impact of COVID‐19 lockdown and post‐lockdown period on acute psychiatric admission rates in an NHS Trust in people diagnosed with EUPD. In addition, the authors analyse whether patient profiles and the seasonal pattern of admission were impacted by COVID‐19 in this population. The study highlights the need for preventative clinical care pathways with increased access and service responsiveness, adjusted to fit local needs at times of confinement policies and additionally more research into seasonal patterns of admission in those with EUPD.

Patterns of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Admissions Before and After the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Take Home Messages from a Clinical Population.

: This study from Istanbul aimed to compare the child and adolescent psychiatric admissions and diagnosis rates between the first 3 months of the pandemic, the previous 3 months in the same year, and the same months in the previous year. : Children and adolescents were grouped according to the admission dates. Group A, between March 11 and June 1, 2020; Group B, between January 1 and March 11, 2020; and Group C, between March 11 and June 1, 2019. Only clinical interviews and diagnoses according to Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version (K-SADS-PL) interview were included. : Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)/tic disorder, and intellectual disability (ID) diagnoses were higher in group A than in groups B and C (for ASD, 6.4%, 4.3%, and 3.6%; for OCD/tic disorder, 2.9%, 1.8%, 1.7%; for ID, 3.7%, 2.5%, and 2.1%, respectively) (P < .001). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis was higher in group A than in only group B (59.8% and 49.7%, respectively) (P < 0.001). Depression was higher in group A than in only group C (4.1% and 2.2%, respectively) (P < .001). Conduct disorder (CD) diagnosis was lower in group A than in only group B (3.6% and 6.4%, respectively) (P < .05). : Child psychiatry diagnosis rates were found to change significantly during the initial phase of the pandemic period. Among the referrals, ASD, OCD, Tic disorder, ID, ADHD, and depression admissions were significantly higher. The rate of pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly ASD, increased during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessment of Children and Adolescents’ Admissions to Pediatric Psychiatric Emergency Department

Objective Emergencies in child and adolescent psychiatry are prevalent, and pediatric psychiatric emergency departments play a crucial role in acute intervention during mental health-related crises. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the characteristics of children and adolescents who were admitted to a pediatric psychiatric emergency department. Method The data were collected from the records of 8803 patients (females 56.6%, Mage = 15.07 ± 2.6) admitted to our pediatric psychiatry emergency department between 2014 and 2021. Diagnoses were made using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision. We used descriptive statistics to determine patient characteristics and conducted a regression analysis to compare the changes in the admissions numbers by the year. Results It was found that depressive disorder was the highest psychiatric diagnosis, with a percentage of 21.4%. Depressive disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder have shown an increase over the years. In 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, psychiatric admissions reached their lowest level. The percentage of hospitalizations was 21.1% for the total of all years. No significant change was found in the total number of admissions, sex, and age. Conclusions The number of admissions for female adolescents who were diagnosed with depressive disorder to our pediatric psychiatry emergency department is shown to be high. The fact that these patients seek help more frequently should be taken into consideration during the planning of mental health services for outpatient and inpatient clinics as well as pediatric psychiatry emergency services.

Socio-Demographic and Clinical Profile of Admitted Patients for Psychiatric Illness in a Tertiary Care Military Hospital in Bangladesh

Background: Mental health problems are becoming a public health issue in all countries around the world. It’s often ignored and unnoticed by patients, their relatives and society as well. Treatments for all these disorders are as available as efficacious. The purpose of this study was to assess the socio-demographic and clinical profile of admitted patients for psychiatric illness in a tertiary care military hospital. Materials and methods: This hospital based retrospective study was performed by analyzing the medical records of admitted psychiatric patients, carried out in the Department of Psychiatry at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Chattogram from 01 July 2022 to 31 December 2022. For this purpose, 41admitted patients in psychiatry ward of CMH Chattogram were enrolled in the study. Psychiatric diagnoses of the patients were assigned by the consultant psychiatrist as per International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10th Revision diagnostic criteria. Statistical analyses were carried out by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)-version 16. The quantitative observations were indicated by frequencies and percentages. Ethical issues were maintained all through the study. Results: The results showed that more than half of (56.09%) patients were in 19-35 years of age with male preponderance (63.41%) and most of the cases reported from urban area (58.53%). The most common psychiatric morbidity among the patients were major depressive disorder (26.82%) followed by Anxiety disorder (17.07%) and Obsessive- compulsive disorders (17.07%). In this study majority of patients stayed 15-28 days (80.48%) on an average of 21.5 days. Conclusion: Neurotic cases were predominant in psychiatric admission. Results of this study may help in the planning for better mental health service integrated with primary healthcare system of our country. Findings of this study will also act as an eye-opener for psychiatrists regarding a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses as well future research in psychiatric fraternity. IAHS Medical Journal Vol 6(2), December 2023; 19-23

Sociodemographics and clinical factors associated with depression treatment outcomes in 65,741 first-time users of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: A Danish cohort study in older adults

ObjectiveTo investigate a wide range of sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with treatment outcomes in older adults who initiated an SSRI for depression treatment in a real-world setting. MethodsThis cohort study used Danish registry data covering all older adults (aged ≥65) who initiated SSRIs for depression from 2006 to 2017, first-time (since 1995). We followed the individuals for one year after their SSRI prescription. Six different outcomes were analyzed, including treatment discontinuation, switching, augmentation, psychiatric hospital contacts for depression, psychiatric hospital admission, and suicide attempt/self-harm. Association analyses employed Poisson regression, estimating incidence rate ratios with 95 % confidence intervals. ResultsThe study included 65,741 individuals with a mean age of 78.23 years, and 55.6 % were females. During follow-up, 40.1 % discontinued, 4.8 % switched, 20.3 % received augmentation, 3.0 % had psychiatric hospital contacts for depression, 3.2 % had psychiatric admission, and 0.1 % had suicide attempt/self-harm records. Differential treatment outcomes were observed based on sociodemographic and clinical factors. For example, being female, residing predominantly in rural areas, having psychiatric or somatic diagnoses, and using medications acting on blood/blood-forming organs, the cardiovascular system, or musculo-skeletal systems were linked to fewer unfavorable clinical outcomes. Conversely, marital status as being single or separated and the use of nervous system drugs were associated with a higher risk of unfavorable outcomes. LimitationsConfounding by indication might remain a problem, and depression severity data was not unavailable. ConclusionsOur findings emphasize considering patient characteristics in clinical decisions, as they can influence the clinical course of those undergoing depression treatment.

All-cause and suicide mortality after first psychiatric admission in adolescents and young adults: A longitudinal follow-up study

BackgroundThis study investigated all-cause and suicide mortality rates in adolescents and young adults following an initial psychiatric admission to elucidate the long-term outcomes for this vulnerable group by focusing on the risks associated with various psychiatric diagnostic categories. MethodsThis study involved 9762 adolescents and young adults discharged from their first psychiatric admission and matched 1:1 with 9762 individuals discharged following a diagnosis of appendicitis on the basis of birth year and sex by using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Both stratified (model 1) and standard (model 2) Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess variations in all-cause and suicide mortality between the groups. ResultsOver the 15-year follow-up period, the adolescents and young adults discharged from their first psychiatric admission exhibited an approximately 3-fold increased risk of death from any cause (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.97 in model 1, 2.83 in model 2) and an approximately ten times higher risk of suicide (11.13 in model 1, 9.23 in model 2) compared with those discharged with a diagnosis of appendicitis. Those discharged with alcohol use disorder or major depressive disorder exhibited higher hazard ratios for both all-cause and suicide compared with the reference group. ConclusionsThe findings reveal a considerable risk of all-cause and suicide mortality in adolescents and young adults following discharge from their first psychiatric admission. These results highlight an urgent need for tailored interventions and continued support for this demographic.

Early specialised treatment for bipolar disorder: Long-term follow-up from the early intervention in affective disorders (EIA) randomised controlled trial.

It is unclear whether treatment early after onset in bipolar disorder may improve the long-term illness course. The early intervention in affective disorders (EIA) randomised controlled trial found that 2-years treatment in a specialised mood disorder clinic combining evidence-based pharmacological treatment with group psychoeducation improved clinical outcomes compared with standard treatment in patients with bipolar disorder discharged after their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd hospital admission. We aimed to assess the 16 years long-term outcomes after randomisation of the participants in the EIA trial. Data were obtained by linking nation-wide Danish population-based registers. All 158 participants of the EIA trial (Trial Registration Number NCT00253071) were followed from time of randomisation (2005-2009) to end of study (31 December 2021). The primary outcome was risk of psychiatric readmission. Secondary outcomes were total admissions and costs, medication use, intentional self-harm or suicide attempt or suicide, and socio-economic measures. The absolute mean risk of psychiatric readmission was 49.3% in the intervention group and 59.8% in the control group, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (b = -0.10, 95% CI: -0.26 to 0.047, p = 0.18). Compared with the control group, patients in the intervention group had numerically fewer total admission days (mean (SD) 44 (77) versus 62 (109)), lower total cost of psychiatric hospital admissions and hospital-based outpatient visits (mean (SD) 22,001 (36793) euros versus 29,822 (52671) euros) and higher use of lithium and antipsychotics, but the differences were not statistically significant. Fewer patients in the intervention group had an event of intentional self-harm or suicide attempt or suicide during follow-up (OR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.15-0.40, p < 0.001) compared with the control group and more patients in the intervention group used antiepileptics (OR 2.21, 95% CI: 1.08-4.60, p = 0.031). Analyses of very long-term outcomes of the EIA trial may potentially indicate a beneficial effect of the intervention at the long term but were likely underpowered to detect a more subtle effect and for most outcomes the differences between groups were not statistically significant.

A non-randomised controlled trial of a community-based accommodation and psychosocial support programme for adults experiencing mental illness and homelessness.

The transition out of inpatient mental health is a crucial time for adults experiencing concurrent mental illness and homelessness, yet evidence regarding effective support options is mixed. Choices is an intensive 3-month psychosocial outreach and crisis accommodation support programme for adults experiencing mental illness and homelessness, delivered by Baptcare in Tasmania, Australia. This study examined the effect of Choices on adults' psychosocial functioning, clinical symptomology and psychiatric readmissions in comparison to standard care only. Participants were adults aged 18-64 years experiencing mental illness and homelessness, recruited upon discharge from a psychiatric admission. Intervention participants (n = 124) received the Choices programme. Control participants (n = 122) received standard care, clinical assessment and treatment from hospital-based Mental Health Services. Outcomes were psychosocial functioning (primary), clinical symptomology, hospital readmission rate and readmission length of stay. Outcomes were assessed at programme commencement and closure (3 months) and 3 months post-closure (intervention group only). Analysis of covariance was used to analyse differences between groups at closure, while controlling for baseline differences. Intervention participants had significantly improved social functioning (encompassing living conditions, social relationships, self-esteem/confidence), overall psychosocial functioning, symptoms of depression and anxiety and shorter hospital readmission length of stay in comparison to the control group. Intervention participants experienced further improvements in social and overall psychosocial functioning 3 months post-closure. The Choices programme is effective in enhancing the psychosocial functioning of adults experiencing concurrent mental illness and homelessness. These findings support the ongoing delivery of this combined accommodation and wrap-around psychosocial model of intensive support.

Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with relapse following electroconvulsive therapy for bipolar disorder.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for bipolar disorder, but relapse following a successful ECT series is common. We aimed to identify clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with the risk of relapse following ECT in bipolar disorder. Using data from nationwide Danish registers, we identified all patients receiving their first ECT series with an indication diagnosis of bipolar disorder between 2006 and 2018. We then followed these patients for relapse, defined as either psychiatric admission or a new ECT series, for 6 months following ECT. Associations between clinical and sociodemographic characteristics and relapse were examined via multivariable Cox proportional-hazards regression, yielding adjusted hazard rate ratios (aHRR). Of the 1473 patients receiving ECT for bipolar disorder (62% females, mean age = 53 years), 34% met the relapse criterion. The following characteristics were associated with an elevated risk of relapse; age <40 (aHRR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.05-2.26); being a pensioner (aHRR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.29-2.32), indication diagnosis for ECT being psychotic mania (aHRR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.16-2.28), psychotic bipolar depression (aHRR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.06-1.80), mixed episode (aHRR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.13-2.02), or other bipolar episodes (aHRR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.28-2.21); and treatment with antipsychotics prior to the course of ECT (aHRR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.04-1.67). Patients with bipolar disorder face a particularly high risk of relapse following ECT if they present with the following characteristics when initiating ECT: age <40, being a pensioner, having received treatment with an antipsychotic before initiating ECT, or having psychotic bipolar depression, psychotic mania, mixed episodes, or other bipolar episodes as the indication for ECT. These findings may guide relapse monitoring following ECT in bipolar disorder.

Evaluation of health services and treatment alliance among extensively hospitalized patients due to severe self-harm – results from the Extreme Challenges project

Background Extensive psychiatric hospitalization due to repeated severe self-harm (SH), is a poorly researched area, but a challenge within health services (HS). Recent studies have demonstrated high levels of involuntary treatment among patients with severe personality disorder (PD) and complex comorbidity. Keeping focus on extensively hospitalized SH patients, this study aimed to investigate patients’ and clinicians’ evaluation of HS and treatment alliance. Method A cross-sectional study with an inpatient sample (age >18 years) with frequent (>5) or long (>4 weeks) psychiatric hospital admissions last year due to SH or SA recruited from 12 hospitals across health regions (N = 42). Evaluation included patient and clinician report. Results A minority of the patients (14%) were satisfied with HS before the current admission, 45% (patients) and 20% (clinicians) found the current admission helpful, and 46% (patients) and 14% (clinicians) worried about discharge. Treatment complaints were received in 38% of the cases. Outpatient mental HS were available after discharge for 68% and a majority of clinicians indicated satisfactory contact across HS. More intensive or specialized formats were unusual (structured outpatient treatment 35%, day treatment 21%, ambulatory services 32%, planned inpatient services 31%). Mutual problem understanding, aims, and confidence in therapists during the hospital stay were limited (patient-rated satisfactory mutual problem understanding: 39%, aims of stay: 50%, confidence: 50%). Patient and therapist alliance-ratings were in concordance for the majority. Conclusion The study highlights poor HS satisfaction, poor patient–therapist coherence, limited treatment alliance and limited follow-up in structured treatments addressing SH or intermediary supportive ambulatory/day/inpatient services.

“Psychiatric emergency consultations of minors: a qualitative study of professionals’ experiences”

BackgroundPsychiatric emergency assessment of minors can be a complex process, especially for professional staff who are not specifically trained in handling child and adolescent emergency patients. As minors cannot usually express their feelings and experiences as well as adults, it is difficult to form an accurate picture of their condition and to determine what kind of emergency care is needed, for instance whether or not a psychiatric emergency admission is necessary. We lack insight in what professionals at emergency departments need to adequately assess these minors and their families. The aim of this study was to explore staff members’ experiences with assessing minors and explore recommendations for improving their ability to provide appropriate support.MethodsGuided by a topic list with open-ended questions, we conducted 11 semi-structured interviews with staff working at psychiatric emergency services. Thematic analysis enabled us to identify five main themes: (1) young age and the crucial role of parents; (2) professionals’ feelings, especially uncertainty; (3) psychiatric emergency admissions and the alternatives to them; (4) regional differences in organization and tasks; and (5) options for improving care.ResultsThe staff interviewed all agreed that it was often complicated and time consuming to take full responsibility when assessing minors with serious and urgent psychiatric problems. Most found it difficult to determine which behaviors were and were not age-appropriate, and how to handle systemic problems during the assessment. When assessing minors and their families in crisis, this led to uncertainty. Professionals were especially insecure when assessing children under age 12 and their families, feeling they lacked the appropriate knowledge and routine.ConclusionCustomized expertise development and improved regional embedding of the psychiatric emergency service in the child and adolescent services will reduce professionals’ uncertainty and improve psychiatric emergency care for minors.

Pathways to experienced coercion during psychiatric admission: a network analysis

BackgroundIn mental health care, experienced coercion, also known as perceived coercion, is defined as the patient’s subjective experience of being submitted to coercion. Besides formal coercion, many other factors have been identified as potentially affecting the experience of being coerced. This study aimed to explore the interplay between these factors and to provide new insights into how they lead to experienced coercion.MethodsCross-sectional network analysis was performed on data collected from 225 patients admitted to six psychiatric hospitals. Thirteen variables were selected and included in the analyses. A Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM) using Spearman’s rank-correlation method and EBICglasso regularisation was estimated. Centrality indices of strength and expected influence were computed. To evaluate the robustness of the estimated parameters, both edge-weight accuracy and centrality stability were investigated.ResultsThe estimated network was densely connected. Formal coercion was only weakly associated with both experienced coercion at admission and during hospital stay. Experienced coercion at admission was most strongly associated with the patients’ perceived level of implication in the decision-making process. Experienced humiliation and coercion during hospital stay, the most central node in the network, was found to be most strongly related to the interpersonal separation that patients perceived from staff, the level of coercion perceived upon admission and their satisfaction with the decision taken and the level of information received.ConclusionsReducing formal coercion may not be sufficient to effectively reduce patients’ feeling of being coerced. Different factors seemed indeed to come into play and affect experienced coercion at different stages of the hospitalisation process. Interventions aimed at reducing experienced coercion and its negative effects should take these stage-specific elements into account and propose tailored strategies to address them.

Readmission after discharge from a medium secure service between 1999 and 2017: A retrospective cohort study.

Previous research into outcomes after treatment in medium secure psychiatric hospitals has mostly relied on pre-millennium data. To examine patient and inpatient service-related factors associated with readmission within 2 years following discharge to the community or open conditions from conditions of medium security. A retrospective cohort study of 137 patients discharged either to the community or to open conditions from one 64-bed South Wales Regional Medium Secure Hospital Unit between July 1999 and November 2017 was completed using data from healthcare records to document demographics, diagnosis and nature of index offences together with researcher-completed ratings of inpatient progress using the Dangerousness Understanding Recovery and Urgency Manual (DUNDRUM) Programme Completion and DUNDRUM Recovery scales. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent associations between inpatient progress according to these measures and readmission. Forty-three patients (31%) were readmitted within 2years of discharge and 23 (17%) in breach of legal conditions on discharge. Most readmitted patients (n=29, 67%) returned directly to medium secure care. There were significant binary level associations between readmission and severity of the index offences (lower), number of adverse childhood experiences (higher), history of drug misuse (more likely) and number of previous psychiatric admissions (higher). Binary logistic regression confirmed that these relationships were not independent. No inpatient service-related variables, according to DUNDRUM scale scores, showed an independent association with readmission within 2years post-discharge. The proportion of medium security hospital patients who were readmitted within 2years of discharge aligns with estimates found in earlier national research using the same follow-up period. Since levels of inpatient progress bore little if any relationship to longer term outcomes, our findings highlight the need for investigating factors in the discharge environment that are linked to readmission. It is possible that readmission may indicate effective monitoring and responsive care to the changing needs of patients, but a better understanding of this is essential.

Fair space for life: A dynamic care monitor working up to growth and flourishing for all.

Mental health disparities persistently cause inequity and social exclusion. Extensive research underpins the need to embrace the social determinants of health and facilitate network learning at various ecosystem levels. Despite valuable quality frameworks and ratified conventions, local practices which counter health inequity are scarce. The Dutch HOP-TR study collected health and needs of Homeless Service Users (HSU) in a rights-based, transdiagnostic, recovery framework. We assessed the survival modes and conducted a socio-ecological analysis, exploring what happened in care pathways at three ecosystem levels: individual HSU, caregiver networks, society. While documenting vital conditions for growth and citizenship, we explore major opportunities to develop 'fair space for life'. Under low distress levels, prosocial behavior is prominent (32.9%). High distress levels are found with an avoidant (42.0%) or aggressive mode (24.9%). Rising distress levels give more frictions in relations, psychiatric admissions, and police-justice contacts. The distress-induced descent in the social hierarchy causes social withdrawal, alienation, and marginalization. At society level, fair conditions for growth and citizenship are challenged by the cumulative impact of distress over the HSU' lives. This care monitor uncovers the impact of distress on caregiver interactions. The care pathways reveal that the survival strategies reflect a systematic, pervasive neglect. Unfair representations hold HSU personally responsible of their situation, disregarding the cumulative impact of environmental conditions over their lives. The diverse sources of unfairness are intrinsic to the health care system and culture. Therefore, the survival modes ask for profound culture transformations in a whole-system-whole-society approach. Given the need for action on health equity and the social determinants of health, this paper provides an example of a dynamic care monitor. The actionable data elicit dialogs and stimulate to enrich opportunities for inclusion and growth in communities and societies.

Influence of prior contact with community mental health services on first inpatient psychiatric admission for ethnic minorities: Findings from the NOMIAC study.

Research has extensively documented inequalities in inpatient psychiatric care provided to people of minoritized ethnic groups. Nonetheless, the role of their previous engagement with community mental health care has been little studied. We aimed at exploring whether previous clinical care can influence key domains of subsequent psychiatric inpatient care for people of ethnic minorities. We identified patients with a first hospital admission between 2016 and 2022, from a representative, highly diverse, catchment area of Northern Italy, using electronic health data of the NOMIAC study. We aimed at testing the impact of clinical care prior to admission on indicators of poor inpatient care, as identified by a participatory expert panel, that is, compulsory admission, insufficient length of stay, administration of Long-Acting Antipsychotics (LAI) during the last 7 days before discharge. Multiple regression models, predicted and counterfactual proportions and path analyses from generalized structural equations modeling were used to explore the association between belonging to ethnic minorities and these indicators. Among 1,524 participants, 18% were from minoritized ethnic groups. While these were more likely to experience an involuntary admission, regardless of previous care received, they were offered appropriate length of stay if had previous engagement with community mental health care. Both belonging to ethnic minorities and mental health care prior-to-admission were independently associated with early LAI administration. Several ethnic inequalities in inpatient care continue despite previous community mental health care provided. Future research should examine how these disparities translate into clinical outcomes. Nonetheless, there is the need to actively promote equity, improving the quality of inpatient care of minoritized ethnic groups.

The relationship between psychiatric inpatient length of stay and suicide prevention

Suicide prevention remains a critical concern within mental health care, particularly for individuals with psychiatric disorders. This review examines the relationship between the length of inpatient psychiatric admission and its effectiveness in preventing suicide. The study analyzes existing literature on admission duration, in-hospital and post-discharge suicide rates, and factors influencing these outcomes such as treatment quality, patient characteristics, and post-discharge support systems. While some evidence suggests longer stays may be beneficial for certain diagnostic groups, the quality and intensity of care during admission and robust post-discharge support appear equally crucial. The review highlights the importance of individualized care plans, comprehensive suicide prevention programs, and strong transitional support. It also discusses international perspectives, ethical considerations, and special populations. The paper concludes that an effective approach to suicide prevention should focus on tailored admission lengths, high-quality care, and seamless transitions to community support, rather than solely on extending lengths of stay.