Does type of first contact in depressive and bipolar disorders predict subsequent hospitalisation and risk of suicide?
BACKGROUND
Only a few studies have investigated how the type of first contact is associated with the risk of subsequent hospitalisation and the risk of committing suicide for patients with depressive or bipolar disorders.


METHODS
All outpatients (patients in psychiatric ambulatories and community psychiatry centres) and in-patients (patients admitted during daytime or overnight to a psychiatric hospital) with a diagnosis of depressive or bipolar disorder at first contact ever in a period from 1995 to 1999 in Denmark were identified from the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register (DPCRR). The risk of subsequent hospitalisation and the risk of suicide were compared according to type of first contact.


RESULTS
The risk of subsequent hospitalisation was significantly increased for patients who were admitted to inpatient facilities during first contact compared to patients with outpatient treatment as their first contact. Patients with depressive disorder who were admitted also had increased risk of committing suicide eventually.


CONCLUSIONS
The diagnoses are clinician based.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients referred to inpatient treatment have a poorer long-term prognosis than patients treated as outpatients.
Kessing
Lars Vedel
LV
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Blegdamsvej 9, DK 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. lars.kessing@rh.dk
Munk-Jørgensen
Povl
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*