IMPACT OF THE INTERACTION OF DEPRESSION AND PHYSICAL ILLNESS ON A PSYCHIATRIC UNITS LENGTH OF STAY

Prior literature suggests that length of stay (LOS) on medical inpatie nt units is increased by the coexistence of depression and physical il lness. The present study examined 532 psychiatric impatient admissions to determine if physical illness increased LOS for patients grouped b y diagnostic categories of psychosis, depression, personality disorder , anxiety disorder, adjustment disorder, bipolar disorder (not depress ed), and other psychiatric disorders. LOS for depressed patients was s ignificantly longer for those with any physical final diagnosis (mean = 20.08 days) than for depressed patients with no physical diagnosis ( mean = 11.48 days). LOS was also longer for all patients with physical diagnoses (mean = 19.31 days) than all patients with no physical diag nosis (mean = 13.13 days). No other specific diagnostic group (psychos is, personality disorder, and so forth) showed significant differences in LOS for any associated physical illness vs no physical illness. Th e study results tend to indicate that physical illness is associated w ith increased LOS for depressed psychiatric patients bat not for other specific diagnostic groups. Depressed patients may 1) mask physical i llness by depression-generated physical complaints; 2) prioritize mood symptoms over physical symptoms; and/or 3) may suffer from feelings o f hopelessness or be pessimistic that their physical symptoms will be effectively treated and, therefore, not report their physical symptoms .