[Readmissions for schizophrenia in Denmark 1979-1998].
The aim of the present study was to produce a nation-wide quantitative description of re-admissions for schizophrenia in Denmark in the period 1979-1998. The study is based on anonymous data from the Psychiatric Central Register. All persons with a main diagnosis of schizophrenia are included. The number of re-admissions of schizophrenics has constantly increased since 1979 (approx. 65%), and the number of persons who account for these re-admissions has increased by approximately 55%. Patients who for the first time are diagnosed with schizophrenia have in the first year after the first admission an average risk of re-admission of 50%, a risk that has not decreased during the 20 years studied. The median age of re-admitted patients has increased by five years for males and is almost unchanged for females indicating a continuous need for re-admission of schizophrenic patients, also the older patients. Danish psychiatry has each year contact with approximately 50% of the persons who at least once have been diagnosed with schizophrenia since 1969 and who are still alive. Certain precautions must be taken in the interpretations of general aggregated statistics such as these.
Munk-Jørgensen
P
P
Arhus Universitetshospital, Psykiatrisk Hospital.
D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012042:Registries; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy