Citation

Godemann F, Uhlemann H, Hauth I. Ger. J. Psychiatry 2006; 9(4): 128-132.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, University of Goettingen)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the year 2004 a total of 3,262 inpatients were admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Berlin, Germany. Of these patients, 357 presented during the night. In order to ensure competent management of night admissions, we conducted a study to determine the characteristics of this specific subgroup of patients. Our analysis was based on data obtained from the hospital's electronic health records system, which is slightly modified version of the Regensburg Basic Documentation System widely used in Germany. The results of our analysis show that patients who arrived during the night suffered from psychiatric disorders of greater severity than patients arriving at other times of day. Night admissions showed a significantly lower level of functionality (p<0.001) and were more likely to be admitted on a compulsory basis (p<0.001) and to exhibit behavior that was dangerous to themselves or to others (p<0.001). Our findings show that psychiatric care for patients admitted during the night requires the presence of especially well-trained staff with sufficient time and resources to ensure quality diagnosis and treatment.

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; female; male; Germany; Psychiatry; alcoholism; depression; schizophrenia; psychosis; suicide attempt; disease severity; article; major clinical study; mental disease; mental health care; hospital admission; automutilation; hallucination; social problem; emergency health service; borderline state; delirium; high risk patient; adjustment disorder; night; Emergency; electronic medical record; medical record review; Admission