Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Low, L.-F. Articles by Draper, B. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Low, L.-F. Articles by Draper, B. Hospitals, Hospital Treatment Related Articles

Hospitalization Patterns for Psychiatric Disorders Across the Lifespan in Australia From July 1998 to June 2005

Dr. Low is affiliated with the Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, and Associate Professor Draper is with the School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia (e-mail: lf.low{at}unsw.edu.au).

OBJECTIVE: This study examined specialized psychiatric hospitalization in Australia. METHODS: Data from July 1998 to June 2005 from the National Hospital Morbidity Database, which includes all public and most private hospital stays in Australia, were analyzed. RESULTS: Over the study period, there were 1,343,584 psychiatric discharges (including transfers, deaths, and changes in care type). There was an 18.0% increase in discharges per 1,000 persons and a 20.3% reduction in average length of stay. The rate of discharges decreased with age, and length of stay increased with age. Psychiatric admission rates were higher and length of stay was lower for women than for men. Hospitalization rates fell with age for schizophrenia, manic disorders, and substance use disorders; increased with age for organic disorders; and peaked midlife for alcohol abuse and mood disorders. A late-life increase in hospitalization for depressive and personality disorders was observed for men. CONCLUSIONS: Planning for specialized psychiatric hospital services needs to take into account the mix of clinical needs by age, gender, and diagnosis.

Related Articles:

Smoking Restrictions and Treatment for Smoking: Policies and Procedures in Psychiatric Inpatient Units in Australia

Paula M. Wye, Jennifer A. Bowman, John H. Wiggers, Amanda Baker, Jenny Knight, Vaughan J. Carr, Margarett Terry, and Richard Clancy
Psychiatr Serv 2009 60: 100-107. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2009 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us