Related Experiment Videos
[Pathways of psychiatric in-patients]
Bettina Hübner-Liebermann1, Hermann Spiessl, Clemens Cording
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität am Bezirksklinikum Regensburg. bettina.huebner-liebermann@medbo.de
Psychiatrische Praxis
|December 1, 2004
Summary
Referral source significantly influences psychiatric patient pathways and aftercare recommendations. General practitioners often refer patients with affective disorders or schizophrenia, while psychiatrists refer those with longer episodes or pre-treatment.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Health Services Research
Context:
- Understanding patient pathways is crucial for optimizing mental healthcare delivery.
- Inpatient psychiatric care pathways and subsequent outpatient aftercare require thorough evaluation.
Purpose:
- To analyze predictors of referral types and outpatient aftercare for psychiatric inpatients.
- To evaluate the pathways of psychiatric inpatients before and after hospitalization.
Summary:
- Logistic regression analysis of 4066 patients revealed referral source impacts patient characteristics and aftercare.
- Patients referred by general practitioners more frequently had affective disorders or schizophrenia, while psychiatrist referrals indicated longer episodes and specific pre-treatments.
- Outpatient aftercare varied, with general practitioner aftercare more common for addiction disorders and elderly patients, and psychiatrist aftercare linked to private practice referrals, schizophrenia, and affective disorders.
Impact:
- Referral source is a key predictor of outpatient aftercare, alongside therapeutic needs.
- Findings can inform healthcare providers and policymakers to improve patient referral and aftercare coordination.
- This study highlights the importance of considering the referring clinician's role in shaping patient trajectories post-hospitalization.