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[Readmissions for schizophrenia in Denmark 1979-1998]
1Arhus Universitetshospital, Psykiatrisk Hospital.
Ugeskrift for Laeger
|March 31, 2000
Summary
Schizophrenia re-admissions in Denmark rose significantly between 1979-1998. First-time patients face a persistent 50% re-admission risk within a year, highlighting ongoing care needs.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Context:
- Nation-wide quantitative description of schizophrenia re-admissions in Denmark.
- Utilized anonymous data from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register (1979-1998).
- Included all individuals with a primary schizophrenia diagnosis.
Purpose:
- To describe the trends and characteristics of schizophrenia re-admissions nationwide.
- To quantify the increase in re-admission rates and patient numbers.
- To assess the first-year re-admission risk for newly diagnosed schizophrenia patients.
Summary:
- Re-admissions for schizophrenia increased by approximately 65% from 1979 to 1998.
- The number of individuals accounting for these re-admissions rose by about 55%.
- First-year re-admission risk for new schizophrenia diagnoses remained stable at 50% over 20 years, with a rising median age of re-admitted patients.
Impact:
- Indicates a continuous and evolving need for re-admission services for schizophrenia patients, including older individuals.
- Danish psychiatry engages with about 50% of living individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia since 1969 annually.
- Highlights the importance of careful interpretation of aggregated psychiatric statistics.