Predicting falls among psychiatric inpatients: a case-control study at a state psychiatric facility

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Gerontology
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Falls are a significant concern in healthcare settings, particularly among vulnerable populations.
• Inpatient psychiatric units are understudied regarding fall risk factors, despite frequent falls.
• Falls in psychiatric patients can lead to injury, prolonged hospitalization, and increased costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate risk factors for falls in psychiatric inpatients within an acute care setting.
• To identify patient and treatment characteristics associated with fall events in this population.
• To contribute to the development of evidence-based fall prevention programs for psychiatric facilities.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of five years of fall data from an inpatient psychiatric facility.
• 1:1 matching of fallers and non-fallers based on primary psychiatric diagnoses.
• Statistical analysis of demographic data, medical history, physical complaints, medication use (including clonazepam and antihypertensives), and vital signs.

Main Results:

• Fallers reported significantly more physical symptoms on the day of the fall.
• Fallers were more likely to have an acute medical condition and be prescribed clonazepam or antihypertensive medications.
• Multivariate logistic regression identified current physical complaints and clonazepam treatment as significant predictors of faller status.

Conclusions:

• Physical complaints and clonazepam use are key risk factors for falls in psychiatric inpatients.
• These identified risk factors warrant assessment in future replication studies.
• Findings can guide the creation of targeted, evidence-based fall prevention programs for psychiatric clinicians.