[Patients who benefit from psychiatric admission in the general hospital].
OBJECTIVE
Psychiatric hospitalization though burdensome remains a very important therapeutic option for severely-ill psychiatric patients. Hospitalization in general hospital psychiatry units (GHPU) are often regarded as the best option. A study was carried out with the purpose of assessing socioeconomic and medical variables associated with success and failure of hospitalization.


METHODS
A review was performed on sociodemographics and medical data of 1,463 patients admitted to a general hospital's GHPU in the period between 1986 and 1997. Statistical analysis was conducted using univariate and multivariate polythomic logistic regression.


RESULTS
In the multivariate analysis three factors were identified as associated to poor hospitalization outcomes (poor condition at discharge and longer hospital stay): age >60 years, poor social functioning, and diagnosis of organic mental disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Although 80% of the patients experienced a considerable symptomatic improvement, a small group benefited less from hospitalization. It is suggestive that these patients would benefit more from psychosocial interventions.
Departamento de Psicologia Médica e Psiquiatria, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brasil. pdalga@aol.com
Paulo
P
Dalgalarrondo
Neury J
NJ
Botega
Cláudio E M
CE
Banzato
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors