PREDICTABILITY OF REHOSPITALIZATION OVER 5 YEARS FOR SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR-DISORDER AND DEPRESSION

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the rate of rehospital isation for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression over a 5-ye ar period in Tasmania, and to identify predictors of the number and du ration of readmissions. Method: The Tasmanian Mental Health Register w as used to study the 5-year pattern of rehospitalisation for all patie nts admitted to a Tasmanian public psychiatric inpatient facility with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or depression, in 1983 or 1984. Results: Seventy-one percent of patients receiving a diagnosis of schizophrenia were readmitted in the 5-year period, comp ared to 59% for bipolar disorder and 48% for depression. For all three diagnoses, the number of prior admissions was a predictor of the numb er of readmissions and the total number of days spent in hospital in t he follow-up period. Age and sex also had significant effects, which v aried across diagnostic groups. Conclusions: A substantial proportion of patients hospitalised for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or schizo phrenia were rehospitalised during the next 5 years. Patients with mor e previous admissions had more readmissions than those with fewer prev ious admissions.