[High utilisers with affective and schizophrenic disorders in the psychiatric health care system: a comparison between Eastern and Western Germany].
OBJECTIVE
High utilisers of psychiatric services are defined as a group of patients showing a great amount of service use, especially inpatient care, consequently causing immense costs. There is a lack of studies investigating differences between East and West Germany.


METHODS
Service use and psychopathology were examined in 350 high utilisers receiving inpatient treatment in one East German and three West German psychiatric hospitals.


RESULTS
Whereas current length of stay was higher in participants from West Germany, readmissions were more frequent in the East German participants who also exhibited higher psychopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Presumably, the deficient situation of outpatient health care in East Germany is compensated by increased stationary admission, consequently leading to a structural promotion of high utilisation.
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie des Universitätsklinikums Hamburg-Eppendorf.
Kathrin
K
von Rad
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie II der Universität Ulm, Günzburg.
Bernd
B
Puschner
Klinik für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Bezirkskrankenhaus Landshut.
Hermann
H
Spießl
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie I der Universität Ulm, Ravensburg.
Julia
J
Grempler
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität Düsseldorf.
Birgit
B
Janssen
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie II der Universität Ulm, Günzburg.
Thomas
T
Becker
Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universitätsmedizin Greifswald am HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund.
Harald
H
Freyberger
D000328:Adult; D003363:Cost Control; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011599:Psychopathology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*