Project description:To address the complex health care needs of patients with mental illness-who commonly have co-occurring medical conditions and substance use disorders-it is critically important for providers to use electronic health records (EHRs) for health information exchange (HIE) when patients are transferred from inpatient psychiatric units in acute care hospitals. Efficient and timely HIE is necessary to ensure that patients receive adequate and informed follow-up care. This study examined the percentage of inpatient psychiatric units that reported using EHRs for HIE at transfers of care and hospital characteristics associated with that use. We linked national data from the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Program of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, and state mental health privacy laws. In 2016 the use of electronic HIE upon transfer from psychiatric units lagged behind the corresponding overall use rates from acute care hospitals (56.3 percent versus 88 percent), with wide variation across states. Hospital size and accountable care organization participation were associated with electronic HIE, but a state's having mental health privacy laws more stringent than the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act did not. Given these results, policy efforts to incentivize the use of electronic HIE in psychiatric settings should be strengthened.
Project description:ObjectiveThis study examined associations of patient, hospital, and service system factors with provision of discharge planning to individuals treated in hospital psychiatric units.MethodsThis retrospective cohort analysis used 2012-2013 New York State Medicaid claims data of 18,185 patients ages <65 years who were treated in hospital psychiatric units and discharged to the community. The claims data were linked to data from managed behavioral health care organizations indicating whether inpatient staff scheduled a follow-up outpatient appointment with a mental health provider. Additional data regarding hospital and service system characteristics were obtained from the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, the Area Health Resource File, and other state administrative databases. Rates and adjusted odds ratios were assessed for the likelihood of inpatient staff scheduling a follow-up appointment.ResultsInpatient staff scheduled outpatient appointments for 79.8% of discharges. The adjusted odds of not having an outpatient appointment scheduled as part of the patient's discharge plan were significantly associated with several factors, including being homeless on admission, having a diagnosis of a co-occurring substance use disorder, having high levels of medical comorbid conditions, and not being engaged in psychiatric outpatient services in the month prior to admission.ConclusionsPatient characteristics were more strongly associated with failure to receive discharge planning than were hospital and service system characteristics.
Project description:BackgroundDischarged psychiatric inpatients are at elevated risk of serious adverse outcomes, but no previous study has comprehensively examined an array of multiple risks in a single cohort.MethodsWe used data from the Danish Civil Registration System to delineate a cohort of all individuals born in Denmark in 1967-2000, who were alive and residing in Denmark on their 15th birthday, and who had been discharged from their first inpatient psychiatric episode at age 15 years or older. Each individual in the discharged cohort was matched on age and sex with 25 comparators without a history of psychiatric admission. Data linked to each individual were also obtained from the Psychiatric Central Research Register, Register of Causes of Death, National Patient Register, and the National Crime Register. We used survival analysis techniques to estimate absolute and relative risks of all-cause mortality, suicide, accidental death, homicide victimisation, homicide perpetration, non-fatal self-harm, violent criminality, and hospitalisation following violence, until Dec 31, 2015.FindingsWe included 62 922 individuals in the discharged cohort, and 1 573 050 matched comparators. Risks for each of all eight outcomes examined were markedly elevated in the discharged cohort relative to the comparators. Within 10 years of first discharge, the cumulative incidence of death, self-harm, committing a violent crime, or hospitalisation due to interpersonal violence was 32·0% (95% CI 31·6-32·5) in the discharged cohort (37·1% [36·5-37·8] in men and 27·2% [26·7-27·8] in women). Absolute risk of at least one adverse outcome occurring within this timeframe were highest in people diagnosed with a psychoactive substance use disorder at first discharge (cumulative incidence 49·4% [48·4-50·4]), and lowest in those diagnosed with a mood disorder (24·4% [23·6-25·2]). For suicide and non-fatal self-harm, risks were especially high during the first 3 months post-discharge, whereas risks for accidental death, violent criminality, and hospitalisation due to violence were more constant throughout the 10-year follow-up.InterpretationPeople discharged from inpatient psychiatric care are at higher risk than the rest of the population for a range of serious fatal and non-fatal adverse outcomes. Improved inter-agency liaison, intensive follow-up immediately after discharge, and longer-term social support are indicated.FundingMedical Research Council, European Research Council, and Wellcome Trust.
Project description:AimsWe aimed to investigate the trajectories of absolute and relative risks of cause-specific mortality among patients discharged from inpatient psychiatric services.MethodsWe conducted a national matched cohort study (2002-2013) using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance database linked to national cause-of-death data files. Patients discharged from inpatient psychiatric care without prior psychiatric hospitalizations were individually matched to 20 comparison individuals based on sex and age. The rates, rate differences, and relative risks (hazard ratios, HRs) of cause-specific mortality were calculated at six follow-up periods post-discharge. Cumulative mortality incidence was assessed at 5 years of follow-up.ResultsThe mortality risks of all causes were increased among patients (n = 158 065) relative to comparison individuals (n = 3 161 300). Mortality rate differences were greater for natural causes, while relative risks (HRs) were higher for unnatural causes. Suicide was the leading cause of death within the first year of discharge, while circulatory and respiratory diseases were the leading causes of death from the second year. The mortality rates and HRs for all causes of death (except homicide) were highest during the first 3 months. The elevated risk of unnatural-cause mortality declined rapidly after discharge but remained high in the long term; in contrast, risk elevation for natural-cause mortality was more stable over time. Approximately one-eighth of patients (12.9%, 95% confidence interval 12.7-13.7%) died within 5 years of follow-up.ConclusionsIntegrated physical and mental health care is needed to reduce excess mortality, particularly during the first 3 months post-discharge, among psychiatric patients.
Project description:BackgroundThe impact of delayed discharge on patients, health-care staff and hospital costs has been incompletely characterized.AimTo systematically review experiences of delay from the perspectives of patients, health professionals and hospitals, and its impact on patients' outcomes and costs.MethodsFour of the main biomedical databases were searched for the period 2000-2016 (February). Quantitative, qualitative and health economic studies conducted in OECD countries were included.ResultsThirty-seven papers reporting data on 35 studies were identified: 10 quantitative, 8 qualitative and 19 exploring costs. Seven of ten quantitative studies were at moderate/low methodological quality; 6 qualitative studies were deemed reliable; and the 19 studies on costs were of moderate quality. Delayed discharge was associated with mortality, infections, depression, reductions in patients' mobility and their daily activities. The qualitative studies highlighted the pressure to reduce discharge delays on staff stress and interprofessional relationships, with implications for patient care and well-being. Extra bed-days could account for up to 30.7% of total costs and cause cancellations of elective operations, treatment delay and repercussions for subsequent services, especially for elderly patients.ConclusionsThe poor quality of the majority of the research means that implications for practice should be cautiously made. However, the results suggest that the adverse effects of delayed discharge are both direct (through increased opportunities for patients to acquire avoidable ill health) and indirect, secondary to the pressures placed on staff. These findings provide impetus to take a more holistic perspective to addressing delayed discharge.
Project description:BackgroundPersons discharged from inpatient psychiatric services are at greatly elevated risk of harming themselves or inflicting violence on others, but no studies have reported gender-specific absolute risks for these two outcomes across the spectrum of psychiatric diagnoses. We aimed to estimate absolute risks for self-harm and interpersonal violence post-discharge according to gender and diagnostic category.MethodsDanish national registry data were utilized to investigate 62,922 discharged inpatients, born 1967-2000. An age and gender matched cohort study was conducted to examine risks for self-harm and interpersonal violence at 1 year and at 10 years post-discharge. Absolute risks were estimated as cumulative incidence percentage values.ResultsPatients diagnosed with substance misuse disorders were at especially elevated risk, with the absolute risks for either self-harm or interpersonal violence being 15.6% (95% CI 14.9, 16.3%) of males and 16.8% (15.6, 18.1%) of females at 1 year post-discharge, rising to 45.7% (44.5, 46.8%) and 39.0% (37.1, 40.8%), respectively, within 10 years. Diagnoses of personality disorders and early onset behavioral and emotional disorders were also associated with particularly high absolute risks, whilst risks linked with schizophrenia and related disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety/somatoform disorders, were considerably lower.ConclusionsPatients diagnosed with substance misuse disorders, personality disorders and early onset behavioral and emotional disorders are at especially high risk for internally and externally directed violence. It is crucial, however, that these already marginalized individuals are not further stigmatized. Enhanced care at discharge and during the challenging transition back to life in the community is needed.
Project description:BACKGROUND:The transition from acute mental health inpatient to community care is often a vulnerable period in the pathway, where people can experience additional risks and anxiety. Researchers globally have developed and tested a number of interventions that aim to improve continuity of care and safety in these transitions. However, there has been little attempt to compare and contrast the interventions and specify the variety of safety threats they attempt to resolve. METHODS:The study aimed to identify the evidence base for interventions to support continuity of care and safety in the transition from acute mental health inpatient to community services at the point of discharge. Electronic Databases including PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, HMIC, CINAHL, IBSS, Cochrane Library Trials, ASSIA, Web of Science and Scopus, were searched between 2000 and May 2018. Peer reviewed papers were eligible for inclusion if they addressed adults admitted to an acute inpatient mental health ward and reported on health interventions relating to discharge from the acute ward to the community. The results were analysed using a narrative synthesis technique. RESULTS:The total number of papers from which data were extracted was 45. The review found various interventions implemented across continents, addressing problems related to different aspects of discharge. Some interventions followed a distinct named approach (i.e. Critical Time Intervention, Transitional Discharge Model), others were grouped based on key components (i.e. peer support, pharmacist involvement). The primary problems interventions looked to address were reducing readmission, improving wellbeing, reducing homelessness, improving treatment adherence, accelerating discharge, reducing suicide. The 69 outcomes reported across studies were heterogeneous, meaning it was difficult to conduct comparative quantitative meta-analysis or synthesis. CONCLUSIONS:The interventions reviewed are spread across a spectrum ranging from addressing a single problem within a single agency with a single solution, to multiple solutions addressing multi-agency problems. We recommend that future research attempts to improve homogeneity in outcome reporting.
Project description:IntroductionPsychiatric inpatient care (PIC) is often characterised by high pressure and thresholds for admission, brief periods of care and limited time for caring activities. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a contested diagnosis, and persons with DID are at risk of not receiving adequate support when cared for in PIC. Because the limited literature addressing the topic includes no overview on how persons with DID are cared for in psychiatric inpatient settings, the aim of this scoping review is to map the area of knowledge on PIC for persons experiencing DID. This scoping review will provide an overview with the possibility to elucidate gaps in the evidence base and needs for future research on PIC for persons experiencing DID.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will follow Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis for Scoping Reviews and steps 1-5 described in the established method for scoping reviews: identifying research question, identifying relevant studies, study selection, charting the data and collating, summarising and reporting results.Ethics approvalNot applicable.DisseminationThis scoping review will be submitted for publication in an international, peer-reviewed journal.
Project description:Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other diverse sexual orientations and gender identity groups (LGBTQ+) face high rates of poor mental health. In the most severe and emergent of instances, inpatient psychiatric care may be required. LGBTQ+ people report experiences of mistreatment in healthcare settings broadly, such as denial of healthcare services and harassment from healthcare providers and other patients. However, little is known about the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in inpatient psychiatric care settings, specifically. The purpose of this review was to assess the existing literature for descriptions of LGBTQ+ people's experiences within inpatient psychiatric care. We searched multiple databases (i.e., PubMed, PsychINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science and Google Scholar) for peer-reviewed articles that described the experiences of LGBTQ+ people within inpatient psychiatric care that were published in English. The included articles (N = 14) were analysed using a conceptual model of stigma and organised within those strata (structural, interpersonal and individual stigma) across the inpatient experience, (admission, inpatient unit, and discharge). Themes identified included: noninclusive intake tools and pervasive misgendering during the admission process; lack of healthcare infrastructure, inadequate training and lack of cultural humility, pervasive discrimination and victimization, silencing of LGBTQ+ patients, and feelings of fear and shame while on inpatient units, and lack of community resources during the discharge process. Clinicians should consider the perspectives and experiences of LGBTQ+ people to enact identity-affirming care practices that may increase mental healthcare engagement and improve long-term mental health outcomes.
Project description:ImportanceHigh rates of suicide after psychiatric hospitalization are reported in many studies, yet the magnitude of the increases and the factors underlying them remain unclear.ObjectivesTo quantify the rates of suicide after discharge from psychiatric facilities and examine what moderates those rates.Data sourcesEnglish-language, peer-reviewed publications published from January 1, 1946, to May 1, 2016, were located using MEDLINE, PsychINFO, and EMBASE with the search terms ((suicid*).ti AND (hospital or discharg* OR inpatient or in-patient OR admit*).ab and ((mortality OR outcome* OR death*) AND (psych* OR mental*)).ti AND (admit* OR admis* or hospital* OR inpatient* OR in-patient* OR discharg*).ab. Hand searching was also done.Study selectionStudies reporting the number of suicides among patients discharged from psychiatric facilities and the number of exposed person-years and studies from which these data could be calculated.Data extraction and synthesisThe meta-analysis adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. A random-effects model was used to calculate a pooled estimate of postdischarge suicides per 100 000 person-years.Main outcomes and measuresThe suicide rate after discharge from psychiatric facilities was the main outcome, and the association between the duration of follow-up and the year of the sampling were the main a priori moderators.ResultsA total of 100 studies reported 183 patient samples (50 samples of females, 49 of males, and 84 of mixed sex; 129 of adults or unspecified patients, 20 of adolescents, 19 of older patients, and 15 from long-term or forensic discharge facilities), including a total of 17 857 suicides during 4 725 445 person-years. The pooled estimate postdischarge suicide rate was 484 suicides per 100 000 person-years (95% CI, 422-555 suicides per 100 000 person-years; prediction interval, 89-2641), with high between-sample heterogeneity (I2 = 98%). The suicide rate was highest within 3 months after discharge (1132; 95% CI, 874-1467) and among patients admitted with suicidal ideas or behaviors (2078; 95% CI, 1512-2856). Pooled suicide rates per 100 000 patients-years were 654 for studies with follow-up periods of 3 months to 1 year, 494 for studies with follow-up periods of 1 to 5 years, 366 for studies with follow-up periods of 5 to 10 years, and 277 for studies with follow-up periods longer than 10 years. Suicide rates were higher among samples collected in the periods 1995-2004 (656; 95% CI, 518-831) and 2005-2016 (672; 95% CI, 428-1055) than in earlier samples.Conclusions and relevanceThe immediate postdischarge period is a time of marked risk, but rates of suicide remain high for many years after discharge. Patients admitted because of suicidal ideas or behaviors and those in the first months after discharge should be a particular focus of concern. Previously admitted patients should be able to access long-term care and assistance.