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Bakola M, Peritogiannis V, Kitsou KS, Gourzis P, Hyphantis T, Jelastopulu E. Length of hospital stay in involuntary admissions in Greece: a 10-year retrospective observational study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024:10.1007/s00127-024-02653-x. [PMID: 38684516 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-024-02653-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The treatment of mental disorders has shifted from inpatient wards to community-based settings in recent years, but some patients may still have to be admitted to inpatient wards, sometimes involuntarily. It is important to maintain the length of hospital stay (LoS) as short as possible while still providing adequate care. The present study aimed to explore the factors associated with the LoS in involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients. METHODS A ten-year retrospective chart review of 332 patients admitted involuntarily to the inpatient psychiatric ward of the General University Hospital of Ioannina, Northwestern Greece, between 2008 and 2017 was conducted. RESULTS The mean LoS was 23.8 (SD = 33.7) days and was relatively stable over the years. Longer-stay hospitalization was associated with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder diagnosis, previous hospitalizations and the use of mechanical restraint, whereas patients in residential care experienced significantly longer LoS (52.6 days) than those living with a caregiver (23.5 days) or alone (19.4 days). Older age at disease onset was associated with shorter LoS, whereas no statistically significant differences were observed with regard to gender. CONCLUSION While some of our findings were in line with recent findings from other countries, others could not be replicated. It seems that multiple factors influence LoS and the identification of these factors could help clinicians and policy makers to design more targeted and cost-effective interventions. The optimization of LoS in involuntary admissions could improve patients' outcomes and lead to more efficient use of resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bakola
- Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Rio, 26500, Patras, Greece
| | - Vaios Peritogiannis
- Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, Ioannina, Greece
| | | | - Philippos Gourzis
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Thomas Hyphantis
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Eleni Jelastopulu
- Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Rio, 26500, Patras, Greece.
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Binbay T, Mollaahmetoğlu ÖM, Kırlı U, Arık D, Alptekin K. Treated incidence of first episode psychosis in Sinop, Turkey: results of a 4-year admission-based study - SINOPsy. Psychol Med 2024; 54:558-568. [PMID: 37609898 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291723002192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of psychotic disorders varies in different geographic areas. As there has been no report from Turkey, this study aimed to provide the treated incidence rate of first-episode psychosis (FEP) in a defined area. METHODS All individuals, aged 15-64 years, presenting with FEP (ICD-10 F20-29, F30-33) to mental health services in a defined catchment-area in Sinop which is located in the Black Sea region of the northern Turkey were recorded over a 4-year period (2009 to 2012). Incidence rates of psychotic disorders and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated. Poisson regression was applied to estimate the differences in incidence rate ratio (IRR) by age, sex, and urbanicity. RESULTS One hundred and fifteen FEP participants were identified during the 4 years. Crude incidence rates of all psychoses, schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, and affective psychotic disorders were respectively 38.5 (95% CI 27.1-49.9), 10.7 (95% CI 6.6-14.8), 10.0 (95% CI 5.7-14.3) and 17.7 (95% CI 11.3-24.2) per 100 000 person-years. After age-sex standardisation the rates increased slightly. There were no gender differences in the incidence rates. IRR of any psychotic disorder was highest in the youngest age group (15-24 years) compared to the oldest age group (55-64 years), 7.9 (95% CI 2.8-30.5). In contrast with previous studies, the incidence rate of any psychotic disorder was not significantly increased in urban areas compared with rural areas. CONCLUSIONS The current study, the first of its kind from Turkey, indicates that the risk of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in a lowly urbanised area of Turkey is comparable to those reported in Western European cities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tolga Binbay
- Faculty of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Umut Kırlı
- Institute on Drug Abuse, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Köksal Alptekin
- Faculty of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
- Department of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey
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Peritogiannis V, Tsoli F, Gioti P, Bakola M, Jelastopulu E. Use of Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics in a Clinical Sample of Community-Dwelling Patients with Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorders in Rural Greece. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12072508. [PMID: 37048591 PMCID: PMC10095177 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12072508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Data on the use of long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAIs) in rural community mental healthcare settings are scarce. This study aimed to investigate the prescription patterns of LAIs in a clinical sample of patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in rural Greece. All patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders who regularly attend the Mobile Mental Health Unit of the prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia (MMHU I-T) in northwestern Greece were included in the study. The sample consists of 87 patients (59 males and 28 females) with a mean age of 54.4 years and a mean illness duration of 28 years. Most patients (72.4%) received antipsychotic monotherapy, and nearly 30% received an LAI formulation, mostly a second-generation LAI (20 of 26 patients, 76.9%). The treatment regimen comprised benzodiazepines in one-third of the patients and antidepressants in one-quarter. There was no statistically significant association between treatment regimen and the clinical and demographic variables studied, except for biological sex (female). The percentage of patients treated with LAIs in this study was almost three times higher than the rate previously reported in Greece and is higher than the rates reported in other countries. Patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders in rural Greece may have adequate access to innovative treatment with second-generation LAIs. Further research is needed to demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of LAI treatment in rural communities and to elucidate the factors associated with such treatment.
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Bakola M, Peritogiannis V, Stuckler D, Kitsou KS, Gourzis P, Hyphantis T, Jelastopulu E. Who is coercively admitted to psychiatric wards? Epidemiological analysis of inpatient records of involuntary psychiatric admissions to a University General Hospital in Greece for the years 2008-2017. Int J Soc Psychiatry 2023; 69:267-276. [PMID: 35232289 DOI: 10.1177/00207640221081793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Involuntary psychiatric admissions are a widely used practice despite ethical concerns about coercion. There are particular concerns that vulnerable groups, such as single, unemployed or racial minorities, may be more subjected to such practices. AIM We aimed to investigate the social patterns of involuntary psychiatric admissions from 2008 to 2017 at University General Hospital in Ioannina, Greece. METHOD We retrospectively assessed inpatient records from 2008 to 2017 of patients admitted to the Department of Psychiatry of the Ioannina University General Hospital, Northwestern Greece. Alternative patients of alternative years were selected for inclusion; this yielded 332 patients involuntarily admitted, corresponding to 28.5% of total involuntary psychiatric admissions. RESULTS Over the 10-year period, the overall numbers of annual involuntary psychiatric admissions remained relatively stable, as did the length of hospital stay (mean = 23.8 days). The most common disorder upon admission was schizophrenia spectrum disorders, accounting for approximately two-thirds of all admissions, followed by mood disorders (about 20%). There was evidence that people who lacked social support or experienced financial hardship were more greatly represented among those admitted: 70.2% of admitted patients were single and 64.8% were unemployed. Most patients had been admitted to the psychiatric ward in the past (64.2%). CONCLUSION Our study indicates potentially worrisome evidence that patients who are in vulnerable positions are at elevated likelihood of being involuntarily admitted to psychiatric wards. Future research is needed to evaluate the socio-demographic patterning of involuntary admissions in other European countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Bakola
- Postgraduate Program of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece
| | - Vaios Peritogiannis
- Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, Ioannina, Greece
| | - David Stuckler
- Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Bocconi, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Philippos Gourzis
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece
| | - Thomas Hyphantis
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Greece
| | - Eleni Jelastopulu
- Department of Public Health, Medical School, University of Patras, Greece
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Mobile Mental Health Units in Heraklion Crete 2013–2022: Progress, Difficulties and Future Challenges. PSYCH 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/psych5010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Mobile mental health units (MMHUs) have been proposed as an effective model to serve the mental health needs of remote underserved areas. In 2013, the Department of Psychiatry, University of Crete, started a pilot MMHU to cover the needs of remote rural areas of the Heraklion Prefecture. The main objectives were early detection, prevention and therapy of patients with severe psychiatric disorders, without access to regular psychiatric care. In addition to regular visits to primary care health centers, a community support network was established. During this 10-year period, the MMHU has evaluated 3343 patients and performed 19,935 visits. The most frequent diagnoses are depression and anxiety (52.7%) whereas psychosis and bipolar disorders are the third (12.7%) and fifth most frequent diagnoses (4.7%). Half of the patients with depression/anxiety were older than 65 years and one third were living alone. Furthermore, the first visit with the MMHU of severely mentally ill was about 15 years later from the self-reported onset of psychotic symptoms. We discuss how to improve our ability to detect and intervene earlier in patients with severe mental illness, and how to address effectively, both pharmacologically and psychosocially, the depression and loneliness of older individuals living in small remote communities.
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Very Long-Term Outcome of Community-Dwelling Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders in Rural Greece. J Nerv Ment Dis 2019; 207:1012-1018. [PMID: 31703035 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to measure the very long-term outcome in community-dwelling patients with a diagnosis of psychosis and to search for possible correlations of outcome with clinical factors. The sample included 55 psychotic patients with at least 15 years of disease duration (M = 32.1 years). For the estimation of the outcome, the Health of the Nations Outcome Scale and the Clinical Global Impression Scale were used. A total of 34.5% of the patients had a good outcome, whereas 27.3% had poor outcome. Outcome was found to be correlated to symptoms, and it was significantly worse in patients living with other severely mentally ill family members. In our study, outcome was good in more than a third of patients. Both symptoms and social functioning were associated with outcome. This study may have some implications for mental healthcare delivery.
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Peritogiannis V, Manthopoulou T, Mavreas V. Long-term Benzodiazepine Treatment in Patients with Psychotic Disorders Attending a Mental Health Service in Rural Greece. J Neurosci Rural Pract 2019; 7:S26-S30. [PMID: 28163499 PMCID: PMC5244055 DOI: 10.4103/0976-3147.196447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Long-term benzodiazepine (BZD) treatment in patients with mental disorders is widespread in clinical practice, and this is also the case of patients with schizophrenia, although the evidence is weak and BZD prescription is discouraged by guidelines and medical authorities. Data on BZD prescription are usually derived from national or regional databases whereas information on the use of BZD by patients with schizophrenia and related psychoses in general population-based samples is limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS Information for 77 patients with psychotic disorders who were regularly attending follow-up appointments with the multidisciplinary Mobile Mental Health Unit of the prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Northwest Greece, during 1-year period (2015) was obtained from our database. RESULTS From the total of 77 engaged patients, 30 (39%) were regularly prescribed BZDs in the long term, as part of their treatment regimen. Prescribed BZDs were mostly diazepam and lorazepam, in 43.3% of cases each. The mean daily dose of these compounds was 13 mg and 3.77 mg, respectively. Statistical analysis showed a correlation of long-term BZD use with the history of alcohol/substance abuse. Most patients were receiving BZD continuously for several years, and the mean dose was steady within this interval. CONCLUSIONS A large proportion of patients with psychotic disorders were regularly prescribed BZD in long term. It appears that when BZDs are prescribed for some period in the course of a psychotic disorder, their use commonly exceeds the recommended interval and then becomes a regular part of the chronic treatment regimen. Future research should address the factors that may be related to the long-term BZD use by patients with psychotic disorders. Interventions for the reduction of regular BZD prescription should target the primary care setting and all those who treat first episode patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaios Peritogiannis
- Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Thiresia Manthopoulou
- Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Venetsanos Mavreas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Ioannina School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece
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Peritogiannis V, Manthopoulou T, Gogou A, Mavreas V. Mental Healthcare Delivery in Rural Greece: A 10-year Account of a Mobile Mental Health Unit. J Neurosci Rural Pract 2017; 8:556-561. [PMID: 29204014 PMCID: PMC5709877 DOI: 10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_142_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Patients living in rural and remote areas may have limited access to mental healthcare due to lack of facilities and socioeconomic reasons, and this is the case of rural areas in Eastern Europe countries. In Greece, community mental health service delivery in rural areas has been implemented through the development of the Mobile Mental Health Units (MMHUs). Methods: We present a 10-year account of the operation of the MMHU of the prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia (MMHU I-T) and report on the impact of the service on mental health delivery in the catchment area. The MMHU I-T is a multidisciplinary community mental health team which delivers services in rural and mountainous areas of Northwest Greece. Results: The MMHU I-T has become an integral part of the local primary care system and is well known to the population of the catchment area. By the end of 2016, the majority of patients (60%) were self-referred or family-referred, compared to 24% in the first 2 years. Currently, the number of active patients is 293 (mean age 63 years, 49.5% are older adults), and the mean caseload for each member of the team is 36.6. A significant proportion of patients (28%) receive care with regular domiciliary visits, and the provision of home-based care was correlated with the age of the patients. Within the first 2 years of operation of the MMHU I-T hospitalizations of treatment, engaged patients were reduced significantly by 30.4%, whereas the treatment engagement rates of patients with psychotic disorders were 67.2% in 5 years. Conclusions: The MMHU I-T and other similar units in Greece are a successful paradigm of a low-cost service which promotes mental health in rural, remote, and deprived areas. This model of care may be informative for clinical practice and health policy given the ongoing recession and health budget cuts. It suggests that rural mental healthcare may be effectively delivered by integrating generic community mental health mobile teams into the primary care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaios Peritogiannis
- Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Thiresia Manthopoulou
- Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Afroditi Gogou
- Mobile Mental Health Unit of the Prefectures of Ioannina and Thesprotia, Society for the Promotion of Mental Health in Epirus, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Venetsanos Mavreas
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
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Retrospective study of first episode psychosis in the Dublin Southwest Mental Health Service: demographics, clinical profile and service evaluation of treatment. Ir J Psychol Med 2017; 36:249-258. [PMID: 31747988 DOI: 10.1017/ipm.2017.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In Ireland, National Clinical Programmes are being established to improve and standardise patient care throughout the Health Service Executive. In line with internationally recognised guidelines on the treatment of first episode psychosis the Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP) programme is being drafted with a view to implementation by mental health services across the country. We undertook a review of patients presenting with a first episode of psychosis to the Dublin Southwest Mental Health Service before the implementation of the EIP. This baseline information will be used to measure the efficacy of our EIP programme. METHODS Patients who presented with a first episode psychosis were retrospectively identified through case note reviews and consultation with treating teams. We gathered demographic and clinical information from patients as well as data on treatment provision over a 2-year period from the time of first presentation. Data included age at first presentation, duration of untreated psychosis, diagnosis, referral source, antipsychotic prescribing rates and dosing, rates of provision of psychological interventions and standards of physical healthcare monitoring. Outcome measures with regards to rates of admission over a 2-year period following initial presentation were also recorded. RESULTS In total, 66 cases were identified. The majority were male, single, unemployed and living with their family or spouse. The mean age at first presentation was 31 years with a mean duration of untreated psychosis of 17 months. Just under one-third were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Approximately half of the patients had no contact with a health service before presentation. The majority of patients presented through the emergency department. Two-thirds of all patients had a hospital admission within 2 years of presentation and almost one quarter of patients had an involuntary admission. The majority of patients were prescribed antipsychotic doses within recommended British National Formulary guidelines. Most patients received individual support through their keyworker and family intervention was provided in the majority of cases. Only a small number received formal Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy. Physical healthcare monitoring was insufficiently recorded in the majority of patients. CONCLUSIONS There is a shortage of information on the profile and treatment of patients presenting with a first episode of psychosis in Ireland. This baseline information is important in evaluating the efficacy of any new programme for this patient group. Many aspects of good practice were identified within the service in particular with regards to the appropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medication and the rates of family intervention. Deficiencies remain however in the monitoring of physical health and the provision of formal psychological interventions to patients. With the implementation of an EIP programme it is hoped that service provision would improve nationwide and to internationally recognised standards.
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