Level of function at discharge as a predictor of readmission among inpatients with schizophrenia

We retrospectively assessed the effect of social-, cognitive-, and task-oriented functioning levels at hospital discharge on the readmission rate of patients with schizophrenia.

We assessed the functional capability of 71 inpatients (37 men and 34 women), mean age 41.3 (standard deviation = 11.9 yr), who underwent daily occupational therapy interventions, at admission and at discharge using a comprehensive function score. We examined readmission rates up to 6.8 yr after discharge.

Function scores improved significantly during the hospital stay (p < .001). Patients with a higher comprehensive function score (75th percentile) at the end of the index admission had a significantly lower readmission rate (p < .05). A higher comprehensive function score (75th percentile) at discharge was a better predictor for readmission than the Brief Psychiatric Rating Score (25th percentile).

These findings demonstrate the predictive value of occupational therapy functional monitoring at discharge for risk of readmission and the importance of cognitive/functional interventions for long-lasting remission.