Exploring factors associated with psychiatric hospitalization for persons living with family

This study investigates the combinations of factors associated with involuntary psychiatric admission for persons living with their family and whether these are differentiated by type of family. Data from consecutive admissions in public acute psychiatric units of Thessaloniki, Greece, collected over one-year period were analyzed via Latent Profile Analysis. Of the three ensued profiles, only one, consisting mainly of younger men diagnosed with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders living with their family of origin, is linked to involuntary hospitalization. The other two profiles include mainly older people with recent onset of depressive disorder living with their created family and women living in socially deprived families, respectively. Severity and duration of psychopathology, inadequate contact with mental health services and socioeconomic adversity seem to constitute risk factors that might lead people living with their families to psychiatric hospitalization, when in crisis, despite the protective role that the family-related perceived social support and life satisfaction might play. Supporting families to manage their suffering member's mental state through collaboration with appropriate mental health services, as well as empowering disadvantaged families to deal with the adverse effects of socioeconomic deprivation appear to be the main strategies to prevent psychiatric hospitalization, especially involuntary.