title: AMA discharge from a psychiatric inpatient unit.
abstract: This study examines AMA discharges from a psychiatric inpatient unit. Such discharges are found to occur with greater frequency (p .005) among individuals with alcoholism and character disorders. The AMA patients do not, however, seem to form a homogeneous group in themselves. This study identifies two subgroups of AMA patients: the "early" AMA and the "late" AMA, depending upon their length of stay in the hospital prior to AMA discharge. The demographic, clinical and psychodynamic differences between the two sub-groups are discussed. Some practical recommendations are made in regard to the prevention and management of AMA discharge requests.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000523:psychology*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D012737:Sex Factors