title: Typologies of psychiatric admissions and length of inpatient stay in Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe admissions to an inpatient psychiatric unit in Italy over a two-year period and explore the influence of demographics, clinical variables and organisational and context-related factors on length of stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from clinical records and recorded by a psychiatrist through a proper checklist.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shorter admissions involved patients with personality disorders and substance use disorders. Greater illness severity and difficulties in setting a post-discharge programme were associated with longer admissions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical, organisational and context-related factors all had significant effects on length of stay.
authors.affiliation: a Psychiatric Unit - Verbano, Department of Mental Health , University Teaching Hospital of Varese , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piccinelli
authors.affiliation: a Psychiatric Unit - Verbano, Department of Mental Health , University Teaching Hospital of Varese , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bortolaso
authors.affiliation: a Psychiatric Unit - Verbano, Department of Mental Health , University Teaching Hospital of Varese , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolla
authors.affiliation: a Psychiatric Unit - Verbano, Department of Mental Health , University Teaching Hospital of Varese , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Isidoro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cioffi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007558:Italy; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Cluster analysis; community mental health services; hospitalisation; length of stay