title: Impact of psychiatric comorbidity on length of hospital stay in gastroenterology patients.
abstract: The impact of psychiatric comorbidity (PCM) on hospital length of stay (LOS) was prospectively examined in 110 patients admitted to a gastroenterology unit. Patients with and without PCM had a mean LOS of 8-9 days. Within the largest subgroup of medical diagnosis (peptic ulcer disease), patients with PCM had a mean LOS 2 days longer than those without PCM. The relationship between PCM and LOS varied substantially between physicians, suggesting their responses differ to patients who present psychiatric symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Goldberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D012017:Referral and Consultation