[Transitional psychiatry in Switzerland: Results of the first-year follow-up of 187 patients after the establishment of the transitional psychiatric department at St. Urban Clinic in Lucerne].

INTRODUCTION

The structural separation of child and adolescent psychiatric care from adult psychiatric care necessitates a transition between the two systems when patients reach the age of majority. In order to facilitate an orderly transition, St. Urban Clinic in Lucerne opened a department for transitional psychiatry in November 2023. The department provides treatment for patients aged 16 to 25 from the cantons of Lucerne, Nidwalden, and Obwalden. In this study, an analysis was conducted on the treatment courses of the first-year cohort. The results are intended to support quality assurance and provide impetus for the further development of transitional care structures.

METHODS

Between 1 November 2023 and 1 November 2024, a total of 187 patients received treatment in the transitional psychiatry department at St. Urban Clinic. Patient characteristics were presented using descriptive statistics. The patients' mental state was recorded and examined at admission and discharge using the Brief Symptom Checklist (BSCL) and Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) measurement instruments. Additionally, the primary and secondary psychiatric diagnoses were documented and compared with those in adult psychiatry.

RESULTS

The evaluation of patient data revealed a significant reduction in psychiatric symptoms during the period of hospitalization. It was also found that the range of diagnoses differed considerably in some cases from that in adult psychiatry. The most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses among transitional patients were depression, anxiety disorders, cannabis use disorder, borderline personality disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Within a year, an inpatient transitional psychiatric care service was successfully established to cover the needs of three Swiss cantons. Moreover, the present study offers exploratory insights into the characteristics of patients in transitional psychiatric settings, including their psychiatric diagnoses and comorbidities.