title: Risk factors associated with psychiatric hospitalization among Iranian schizophrenic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Psychiatric hospitalization of patients imposes heavy burdens on caregivers, but little is known about this issue in Iran. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with psychiatric hospitalization of patients with schizophrenia who were the regular clients for the educational programs of The Iranian Society for Supporting Individuals with Schizophrenia (ISSIS) in Tehran, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  231 male and female study subjects and 231 of their caregivers participated in the study. The study subjects were independently assessed in demographics, clinical and symptom-related characteristics and basic life skills domains. Their caregivers were assessed in domains of knowledge on schizophrenia, burden, social support, family function, and the patterns of relationships with their patients and the role of health and supportive services. Data were analyzed by performing logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Old age, low level of education, unemployment, greater severity of positive and negative symptoms, poor basic life skills among subjects, and objective family burden, inadequate knowledge on schizophrenia, low perceived social support and lack of medical insurance among caregivers were the most important factors associated with psychiatric hospitalization among the clients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some factors originated in Iranian patients and their caregivers could cause patients' pathways to psychiatric hospitalization. Although the study results did not establish causation, based on the findings, psychoeducational interventions may reduce schizophrenia referral and lower the rate of need to inpatient services in Iran.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  None.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Family Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mansouri
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Family Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chimeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Family Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dehghani
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Mental Health Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Kazem
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Malakouti
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Mental Health Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taherkhani
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Family Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abarashi
keywords: Hospitalization; Risk Factor; Schizophrenia