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[Heavy users of inpatient psychiatric services]
Christiane Roick1, Dirk Heider, Reinhold Kilian
1Universität Leipzig, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Leipzig, Germany.
Psychiatrische Praxis
|October 16, 2002
Summary
Heavy use of inpatient psychiatric services is significant, with 16.7% of patients accounting for 36.4% of costs. Schizophrenia and personality disorders predict heavy utilization, necessitating further research into care alternatives.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Health Services Research
- Health Economics
Background:
- Inpatient psychiatric services are crucial for severe mental health conditions.
- Understanding patterns of service utilization is key to resource allocation and care improvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extent of heavy use of inpatient psychiatric services.
- To identify predictors of heavy utilization among psychiatric service users.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of health insurance data for 969 users of inpatient psychiatric services in Leipzig.
- Classification of 'heavy users' based on a minimum of three admissions.
Main Results:
- 16.7% of patients were classified as heavy users, responsible for 36.4% of total inpatient costs.
- Schizophrenia and comorbid personality disorders were significant predictors of heavy use.
- Facility type and discharge method also emerged as predictors of heavy service utilization.
Conclusions:
- Heavy users represent a substantial cost burden, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
- Further qualitative research is recommended to understand the drivers of heavy inpatient service use.
- Exploring alternative care pathways for heavy users is essential for optimizing psychiatric service delivery.