Impediments to psychiatric hospital discharge: what different professional groups think

Perceived impediments to psychiatric hospital discharge were investigated across six professional groups. Seventy-nine psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, rehabilitation personnel, registered nurses, and psychiatric aides were asked to select five behaviors and five other factors that they believed impeded hospital discharge. Violent behaviors, such as suicide, homicide, and damaging property, and financial factors, such as inadequate funds and inadequate living arrangements, emerged as the two areas that hospital staff consistently selected as principal impediments to discharge. Treatment plans of 20 patients were surveyed to ascertain whether the behaviors and other factors identified by staff were reflected in treatment goals.