title: Predictors for readmission risk of new patients: the Nordic Comparative Study on Sectorized Psychiatry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Predictors for readmission risk were investigated in this study, which forms part of the Nordic Comparative Study on Sectorized Psychiatry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included were a total of 837 consecutive 'new' patients (not in contact with the psychiatric services for at least 18 months) admitted to in-patient stay during a period of 1 year to seven psychiatric hospitals in four Nordic countries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate survival analyses showed that younger age predicted increased readmission risk. Stratifying on gender, diagnostic group and sector revealed a general pattern concerning age which was the only consistent main effect. Living alone and unemployed increased readmission risk in the non-psychosis group, while receipt of aftercare decreased readmission risk in the psychosis group. A curvilinear relationship was found between availability of psychiatric resources and readmission risk: an intermediate amount of resources was associated with increased risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support a hypothesis that readmission risk is multifactorially determined and that interactions have to be considered.
authors.affiliation: Salten Psychiatric Centre, Nordland Psychiatric Hospital, Bodø, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oiesvold
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Saarento
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sytema
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vinding
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Göstas
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lönnerberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sandlund
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hansson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D016019:Survival Analysis