Pattern of health service utilization and predictors of readmission after a first admission for psychosis: a 2-year follow-up study.
Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2006-04-01; 113(4): 340-349
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00694.x
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Cougnard A(1), Parrot M, Grolleau S, Kalmi E, Desage A, Misdrahi D,
Brun-Rousseau H, Verdoux H.
Author information:
(1)University Victor Segalen Bordeaux2, Bordeaux, France.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the pattern of health service utilization over 2 years
following a first admission for psychosis and the baseline characteristics
predicting readmission.
METHOD: Patients included in a cohort of first-admitted subjects with psychosis
(n = 84) were assessed at the end of a 2-year follow-up using multiple sources
of information.
RESULTS: At the end of the follow-up, one of three subjects had no contact with
any mental health professional, and 38% of subjects had no contact with a
psychiatrist. Half of the patients were readmitted over the 2-year follow-up.
The baseline characteristics independently predicting psychiatric readmission
were a high number of helping contacts before first admission and persistence of
psychotic symptoms at discharge.
CONCLUSION: Decreasing the frequency of readmission in the early course of
psychosis is a public health priority. Development of psychotherapeutic programs
for subjects with early psychosis who have enduring psychotic symptoms at first
discharge should be promoted.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2005.00694.x
PMID: 16638079 [Indexed for MEDLINE]