Psychiatric hospitalization: treatment or triage?
We examined the outcome of active duty psychiatric inpatients (N = 101) 2 years after admission. Most patients were young with minor diagnoses (adjustment disorders), yet only 20% were still on active duty 2 years later. This compared poorly with national retention rates for all lengths of time in service (p < 0.0001). Longer time in service and low severity of diagnosis predicted a better outcome. We discuss implications of these findings.
Pullen
R L
RL
Department of Psychiatry, Fort Drum, Watertown, NY 13601.
Labbate
L A
LA
D005260:Female; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006772:Hospitals, Military / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008889:Military Personnel; D008890:Military Psychiatry; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014218:Triage; D014481:United States