Brief communication: factors affecting rehospitalisation in psychiatric patients in Singapore.
OBJECTIVE
To study the patterns of readmission in Singapore using a cohort of first admission schizophrenia patients to the state mental health institute.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of case records was done of first admission schizophrenia patients to the hospital from April 1993 to March 1994. Patients who had only one admission in the five years of follow up were compared to 'revolving door patients'.


RESULTS
The cohort comprised 133 males (56.8%) and 101 females (43.2%). Seventy-eight patients (33.3%) had one admission to the hospital while 56 (23.9%) fulfilled the revolving door criteria. On performing a logistic regression we found sex (p = 0.02), shorter duration of illness (p = 0.01) and CPN referral (0.006) were significantly associated with revolving door phenomena.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study has identified male gender, history of self-harm and a short duration of illness to be risk factors for 'revolving door' phenomena.
Mahendran
Rathi
R
Institute of Mental Health, Woodbridge Hospital, Singapore. Rathi_Mahendran@imh.com.sg
Mythily
Chong
Siow-Ann
SA
Chan
Yiong Huak
YH
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology