TY - JOUR
T1 - Outcomes of compulsorily admitted schizophrenia patients who agreed or disagreed to prolong their hospitalization
AU - Krivoy, Amir
AU - Fischel, Tsvi
AU - Zahalka, Hazar
AU - Shoval, Gal
AU - Weizman, Abraham
AU - Valevski, Avi
PY - 2012/10
Y1 - 2012/10
N2 - Background: Compulsory admission is practiced around the world with legislative variations. The legal status during compulsory hospitalization might be changed to consent or the patient might be discharged against medical advice (AMA), if he no longer poses a risk. Objective: In the present study, we investigated the outcome of compulsory admitted patients who left the hospital after commitment period despite request by the treating psychiatrist to remain in the hospital (AMA) vs those who agreed to prolong their hospitalization. Results: Of 320 patients with schizophrenia admitted involuntarily, 157 (49%) were discharged without converting to consent, and 163 (51%) agreed to stay in the hospital. There was no difference in baseline clinical and demographic characteristics and outcome measures (rate of readmission, legal status of next admission, and length of stay in the next admission) between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Prolongation of length of stay in compulsorily psychiatrist-ordered schizophrenia patients did not affect their rate of rehospitalizations or the length of next admission compared with those who left the hospital immediately after the change in their legal status AMA.
AB - Background: Compulsory admission is practiced around the world with legislative variations. The legal status during compulsory hospitalization might be changed to consent or the patient might be discharged against medical advice (AMA), if he no longer poses a risk. Objective: In the present study, we investigated the outcome of compulsory admitted patients who left the hospital after commitment period despite request by the treating psychiatrist to remain in the hospital (AMA) vs those who agreed to prolong their hospitalization. Results: Of 320 patients with schizophrenia admitted involuntarily, 157 (49%) were discharged without converting to consent, and 163 (51%) agreed to stay in the hospital. There was no difference in baseline clinical and demographic characteristics and outcome measures (rate of readmission, legal status of next admission, and length of stay in the next admission) between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Prolongation of length of stay in compulsorily psychiatrist-ordered schizophrenia patients did not affect their rate of rehospitalizations or the length of next admission compared with those who left the hospital immediately after the change in their legal status AMA.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84866479505&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.03.006
DO - 10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.03.006
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AN - SCOPUS:84866479505
SN - 0010-440X
VL - 53
SP - 995
EP - 999
JO - Comprehensive Psychiatry
JF - Comprehensive Psychiatry
IS - 7
ER -
