Role of psychiatric intensive care units in preventing long term hospital stays

To assess whether psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) stabilization reduces inpatient length of stay compared with direct admission to wards without PICU support.

A retrospective cohort study examined consecutive admissions for acutely disturbed behavior at Punjab Institute of Mental Health, Lahore, from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024. Two pathways were compared: PICU admission followed by discharge or transfer to an inpatient unit (PICU group), and direct admission from the Emergency Department to inpatient ward (non PICU group). Demographic and diagnostic variables were recorded; length of stay was compared.

Demographics were similar across units; most patients were male and under thirty-five. Mean length of stay was significantly lower in PICU (6.0 ± 3.09 days) compared to non-PICU (58.9 ± 20.40 days, p < 0.001).

PICU-based stabilization markedly reduced hospitalization duration and prevented long-term admissions.