REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN THE USE OF PSYCHIATRIC-HOSPITAL BEDS IN FINLAND - A NATIONAL CASE-REGISTER STUDY

We investigated the possible differences in the utilization of psychia tric hospital beds among five social security areas in Finland, and th e association between the variables related to the psychiatric service s and the use of hospital beds. The use of hospital beds varied quite distinctly among these areas, as did the total rate of in-patients, re admissions, and rates of in-patients with psychotic and affective diso rders. The treatment practices appeared to vary as the length of stay (LOS) and the rate of committal differed regionally in a significant m anner. There was a significant positive correlation between the total rate of in-patients and the rate of readmitted patients (r=0.92, P<0.0 01), and a significant negative correlation between the number of visi ts per worker in out-patient care and the rate of readmissions (r=-0.9 4, P<0.001).