A clinical profile of inpatient admissions to the psychogeriatric unit at Stikland Hospital

The Characteristics and Outcomes of People with Dementia in Inpatient Mental Health Care: A Review

OBJECTIVES

Inpatient mental health beds for people with dementia are a limited resource. Practitioners need an understanding of this population to provide high-quality care and design services. This review examines the characteristics, care, and outcomes of people with dementia admitted to inpatient mental health services.

METHODS

Systematic searches of key databases were undertaken up to November 2021. Findings were grouped into categories and then synthesized into a narrative review.

RESULTS

The review identified 36 international papers, the majority of which were retrospective audits. The literature describes significant psychiatric and medical comorbidity and significant risk of change in residence and death associated with admission.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a limited literature describing the characteristics, care, and outcomes of people with dementia in inpatient mental health services. The lack of research is striking given the complexity and vulnerability of this client group. More research is needed to describe the needs of this group, current and best practice to optimize care.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Professionals working in inpatient mental health services need to be aware of the evidence base available, consider how they evaluate patient outcomes, review their staffing and skills mix, and seek the views of patients and relatives in improving services.

Factors associated with longer hospital admission in elderly patients with major neurocognitive disorder

Background

Major neurocognitive disorder presents many challenges to patients, families and healthcare systems, especially when a patient requires admission to a psychiatric hospital.

Aim

To identify characteristics of older patients with major neurocognitive disorder at risk of prolonged admission in a psychiatric hospital.

Setting

A tertiary psychiatric hospital in Gauteng province, South Africa.

Methods

The authors conducted a retrospective review of the hospital database and clinical files. Clinical and demographic data were collected from the files of 50 inpatients, 60 years and older, who were diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder and admitted between 2015 and 2019. Anonymised data from patient records were captured on an electronic spreadsheet and analysed using T-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to investigate the relationship between patient characteristics and length of hospital admission.

Results

The mean duration of admission was 18.29 months. Involuntary admission status (β = 0.239, p = 0.049), level of assistance required (moderate level of assistance [β = 0.378, p = 0.005]; high level of assistance [β = 0.336, p = 0.015]), availability of social support (β = -0.319, p = 0.016) and the presence of behavioural or psychological problems (β = 0.437, p = 0.002) were significantly correlated with longer admission. Using a stepwise regression model, the only significant variable associated with a shorter length of stay was the presence of social support (β = -0.512, p = 0.009). Age, type of major neurocognitive disorder and number of comorbidities were not correlated with the duration of admission (p > 0.005).

Conclusion and contribution

Social support plays an important role in the management of patients with major neurocognitive disorder. The findings in this study highlight healthcare shortages and a need for adequate placement facilities in South Africa for patients who have no other form of support.