Analysis of Dependency Levels in Psychiatric Hospitalizations by Psychiatric Nurses: A Retrospective Study in France

Understanding patients' functional independence is essential in psychiatric care. Activities of daily living (ADL) scales, widely used in geriatrics and rehabilitation, are increasingly relevant for psychiatric patients to assess both physical and behavioural dependencies. Despite their integration into French psychiatric practices, their usage remains underexplored in large-scale studies.

This study aims to evaluate and describe the dependency levels among adults hospitalised for psychiatric care in France between 2013 and 2022, leveraging medico-administrative data from the French National Health Data System (SNDS).

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using SNDS data, analysing ADL scores collected during psychiatric admissions. Dependency levels were categorized into six levels based on established criteria, with specific focus on physical (e.g., mobility, continence) and relational dimensions (e.g., behavioural interactions). Descriptive statistics and trends were analysed over time. The study adheres to the STROBE checklist for cohort studies.

A significant heterogeneity in dependency levels was observed, highlighting distinct profiles based on patient demographics, psychiatric diagnoses and care settings. Changes in dependency patterns over the studied decade reflected evolving care practices and patient management strategies in French psychiatry.

ADL assessments provide a comprehensive framework for understanding psychiatric patients' needs, enabling tailored interventions and optimizing resource allocation. This study emphasizes the importance of standardized dependency evaluation tools in psychiatric care and offers insights into dependency trends in a large national sample.