Pattern of health service utilization and predictors of readmission after a first admission for psychosis: a 2-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the pattern of health service utilization over 2 years following a first admission for psychosis and the baseline characteristics predicting readmission.


METHODS
Patients included in a cohort of first-admitted subjects with psychosis (n = 84) were assessed at the end of a 2-year follow-up using multiple sources of information.


RESULTS
At the end of the follow-up, one of three subjects had no contact with any mental health professional, and 38% of subjects had no contact with a psychiatrist. Half of the patients were readmitted over the 2-year follow-up. The baseline characteristics independently predicting psychiatric readmission were a high number of helping contacts before first admission and persistence of psychotic symptoms at discharge.


CONCLUSIONS
Decreasing the frequency of readmission in the early course of psychosis is a public health priority. Development of psychotherapeutic programs for subjects with early psychosis who have enduring psychotic symptoms at first discharge should be promoted.
Cougnard
A
A
University Victor Segalen Bordeaux2, Bordeaux, France.
Parrot
M
M
Grolleau
S
S
Kalmi
E
E
Desage
A
A
Misdrahi
D
D
Brun-Rousseau
H
H
Verdoux
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005602:France; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*