Socio-economic differences in psychiatric in-patient care.
OBJECTIVE
We seek to investigate socio-economic differences in psychiatric in-patient care regarding admission, treatment and outcome.


METHODS
This study is undertaken on a comprehensive and exhaustive psychiatric case register of all psychiatric in-patient care carried out in Belgium in 1997 and 1998 (n=144 754).


RESULTS
Lower socio-economic groups were more likely to be compulsorily admitted, to be cared for in a non-teaching or psychiatric hospital, to be admitted in a hospital with unexpectedly long average length of stay and to be admitted to a ward with a more severe case-mix. They were less likely to receive antidepressants and psychotherapies. The improvements in functioning and in symptoms were also less favourable for these groups. The lowest group had a higher risk of dying in the hospital.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatric in-patient care is associated with moderate socio-economic differences in access, treatment and outcome. Further research is needed to clarify the causes of such disparities.
Lorant
V
V
Health System Research, School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. lorant@sesa.ucl.ac.be
Kampfl
D
D
Seghers
A
A
Deliège
D
D
Closon
M-C
MC
Ansseau
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome