Brief psychiatric hospitalization: preliminary experience with an urban short-stay unit

To present data from the recently implemented psychiatric short-stay units (SSUs) in metro Halifax. There are few data describing SSUs and factors associated with successful outcome.

A 4-month retrospective chart review of 124 patients.

Patients tended to be single, unemployed young adults, with a past history of psychiatric admission. Most patients were admitted voluntarily. There was an equal sex ratio. Mean length of stay for all patients was 2.5 days. Adjustment disorder was the diagnosis most responsible for admission.

Many psychiatric inpatients may benefit from brief hospitalization. Brief hospitalization results in reduced health care costs.