[Readmission of psychiatric patients hospitalized for the first time--course and predictive factors after 5 years]

In this study the course of rehospitalisation after one, 2 1/2 and 5 years was examined in a sample of 113 readmitted patients of different diagnostic groups. In a second step of analysis occupational, sociodemographic and clinical parameters of these patients were related to the readmission after 5 years and studied if these parameters allow a predictive statement. It was shown that 40%-60% (dependent of diagnoses) of the patients were readmitted in a period of 5 years. The course of the rehospitalization also varied in the different diagnostic groups. The most striking result was the rate of readmission of the schizophrenic psychoses which was at the time of the 1 year catamnesis below average after the 2 1/2 years analysis however above average. Besides these findings occupational and clinical predictors were identified in all diagnostic groups with exception of the schizophrenic psychoses group. The results are discussed and attention is put on possible consequences to prevent rehospitalization.