[Frequent use of psychiatric inpatient services analysed from three different perspectives].
OBJECTIVE
Frequent utilization of psychiatric inpatient care was mainly analysed by quantitative methods. The present study combines quantitative with qualitative methods and discusses the results obtained from these different perspectives.


METHODS
The quantitative analysis is based on data from 184 schizophrenia patients, who were observed over a period of 2(1/2) years. Twenty of the identified frequent users and 6 employees of psychiatric facilities were interviewed by means of qualitative methods as to the causes of frequent use of inpatient care.


RESULTS
Predictors of frequent use identified in the quantitative study were found again in the qualitative analysis. Opportunities for alternative care for frequent users suggested by the staff of psychiatric facilities include social treatment in the community, day structuring activities and sheltered work. Patients consider work, compliance securing and better contact with office based psychiatrists to be important factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients and staff give different priorities to their suggestions for interventions, but are, in most cases, of the opinion, that part of hospital admissions of frequent users could be avoidable by means of alternative services.
Roick
Christiane
C
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie, Universität Leipzig. roich@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Heider
Dirk
D
Stengler-Wenzke
Katharina
K
Angermeyer
Matthias C
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015984:Causality; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012759:Sheltered Workshops / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012960:Socioenvironmental Therapy; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data