J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 2013 Mar;52(2):98-107. Korean.
Published online Mar 31, 2013.
Copyright © 2013 Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
Original Article

Psychosocial Correlates of Length of Stay of Institutionalized Patients with Mental Illness

Jung Kyoo Choi, MD,1 Hong-Suk Jang, MD, PhD,2 Myung-Soo Lee, MD, MPH,3 Jin Pyo Hong, MD, PhD,4 and Jong-Ik Park, MD, PhD, LLM1
    • 1Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.
    • 2Dr. Jang's Psychotherapeutic Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
    • 3Seoul Metropolitan Mental Health Center, Seoul, Korea.
    • 4Department of Psychiatry, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Received October 16, 2012; Revised December 06, 2012; Accepted February 07, 2013.

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlated factors that may influence the length of stay in mental health related facilities.

Methods

We chose 2253 patients with mental illness using a stratified multi-stage cluster sampling from 48 psychiatric hospitals, twelve psychiatric clinics, five psychiatric welfare facilities, and five mental rehabilitation facilities. The investigation involved psychiatrists, psychology practitioners, and social workers, and lasted from August 1, 2008 to November 15, 2008. Assessment and investigation of diverse factors was performed using one-way analysis of variance in order to examine their influence on length of stay.

Results

Factors showing significant correlation with length of stay included the types of mental health related facilities, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, type of medical security, familial support, type of admission, diagnosis, age of onset of the illness, number of admissions, severity of psychiatric symptoms, daily living and social function, GAF score, prominent thought/perception disability, memory/orientation disturbance, odd behavior/prominent regression, personal hygiene, communication/personal relationship, management of money, and public transportation/facility utilization.

Conclusion

Findings of this study suggest that the type of mental health related facilities and the type of medical security are the most significant factors showing correlation with length of stay.

Keywords
Length of stay; Long-term institutionalization; Type of mental health facility; Type of medical security

Tables

Table 1
Length of stay by types of facilities

Table 2
Length of stay by demographic characteristics

Table 3
Length of stay by socioeconomic and social support characteristics

Table 4
Length of stay by clinical characteristics

Table 5
Length of stay by clinical levels

Table 6
Length of stay by functional levels

Notes

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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