Risk factors associated with psychiatric readmission

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Early readmission is a significant concern in psychiatric care, impacting patient outcomes and healthcare expenditure.
• Identifying specific risk factors for readmission is crucial for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify significant risk factors associated with early readmission (within 15 days) for patients discharged from an urban psychiatric inpatient setting.
• To inform the development of preventative strategies to improve patient care and reduce healthcare costs.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of 207 inpatient psychiatric admissions.
• Analysis of readmission within 15 days, 3-6 months, and at least 12 months post-discharge.
• Multinomial logistic regression to identify significant risk factors.

Main Results:

• Schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder diagnosis (OR=18), history of alcohol abuse (OR=9), increased previous hospitalizations (OR=2), and homelessness (OR=29) were significant predictors of early readmission.
• Positive urine drug screen, history of drug abuse/incarceration, and legal status did not predict early readmission.

Conclusions:

• Specific patient characteristics and social determinants of health are critical risk factors for early psychiatric readmission.
• Intervention strategies targeting these identified risk factors can enhance patient safety, quality of care, and potentially lower healthcare expenditures.