Why do adolescents return to an acute psychiatric unit?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this paper is to determine potentially modifiable factors associated with the high proportion of patients who are readmitted to adolescent psychiatric units.

METHOD: The case notes of 112 adolescents admitted over 1 year to an acute adolescent psychiatry unit were reviewed. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were compared between those who were readmitted over a 12-month period post discharge and those who were not.

RESULTS

The readmission rate over a 12-month period was 31%. Males were significantly more likely to be readmitted. No other statistically significant predictors of readmission were identified. There was a trend towards readmission for those with bipolar disorder and a trend away from readmission for those with adjustment disorders. A history of sexual abuse and cluster B personality traits were significantly related to a history of previous admission, but not with subsequent readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Readmission is influenced by a number of factors, which may not be easily identified by a chart review. Prospective studies which follow-up adolescents for several years after discharge are needed.