title: Acute psychiatric inpatient care: a cross-cultural comparison between two hospitals in Germany and Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intercultural differences influence acute inpatient psychiatric care systems.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate characteristics of acute inpatient care in a German and a Japanese hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a sample of 465 admissions to the Psychiatric State Hospital Regensburg (BKR) and 91 admissions to the Hirakawa Hospital (HH) over a six-month period in 2008, data from the psychiatric basic documentation system (BADO) were analysed with regard to socio-demographic characteristics, treatment processes and outcome indicators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Schizophrenia and related psychosis was the most common diagnosis in both hospitals. Cases at the BKR were admitted more quickly after onset of the present episode. Global Assessment of Psychosocial Functioning (GAF) ratings at admission were lower at the HH. Most admissions to both hospitals received psychopharmacological treatment, but more at the HH received psychotherapy. Length of stay was significantly longer at the HH (75 days) than at the BKR (28 days). Admissions to the HH were more improved with regard to GAF and clinical global impression (CGI).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acute admissions in Germany provide intensive care with short hospitalization as crisis intervention. For acute admissions in Japan, comprehensive care for severe mental illness precedes emergency admissions and achieves greater improvement with longer hospitalization.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Centre East, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moriwaki
authors.forename: Tanja
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neuner
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hübner-Liebermann
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hausner
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wittmann
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Junich
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirakawa
authors.forename: Kazumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwai
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs