Psychiatric hospitalization of persons with dual diagnoses: Estimates fromtwo national surveys

Individuals with both mental illness and alcohol or drug use disorders pres ent distinctive treatment and human service problems, including increased r isk for psychiatric hospitalization in community hospitals. Using national hospital discharge abstract data for 1990 and 1994, this study compared dif ferences in psychiatric hospitalization in community hospitals of patients with mental illness only and those with mental disorders and substance use disorders. Individuals with dual diagnoses were younger, and a greater prop ortion were men. Medicaid was the primary payer for a larger percentage of those with dual diagnoses. Nationally, the number of community hospitalizat ions for dually diagnosed patients increased 15 percent from 1990 to 1994, and total hospital charges increased from $1.9 to $2.2 billion.