[Debts, loans and unpaid bills among day patients and inpatients in psychiatric care in Berlin, Germany].

BACKGROUND

Previous studies among the general population indicated an association between mental illnesses and different forms of financial difficulties, such as indebtedness.

OBJECTIVE

Investigation of the financial burden and associated factors among inpatients and day clinic patients in psychiatric care.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A total of 488 patients in psychiatric care in the catchment area of the Psychiatric University Hospital Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital participated in a cross-sectional patient survey carried out with a structured interview regarding financial burden, sociodemographic and clinical variables.

RESULTS

Of the participants 269 (55.1%) showed outstanding debts, loans or unpaid bills. Among the participants who were willing to give information about the amount of debts, the majority (47.0%) had debts between 1000 € and 9999 € and 36.3% between 10,000 € and 99,999 €. In the binary regression models, younger age and substance use disorders were factors significantly associated with outstanding debts. Of the participants 22.3% had outstanding debts >10,000 € and were depending on social welfare, so that indebtedness could be assumed.

CONCLUSION

Financial burdens and outstanding debts among patients in psychiatric care should be inquired about and considered more intensively in practice. Suitable models of support need to be developed and evaluated.