Predictors of Psychiatric Early Readmission in Two Arab Hospitals

Objectives: the aims of this study were to (1) examine factors contributing to early psychiatric readmissions in one hospital in Egypt and another in Saudi Arabia, (2) correlate and predict factors affecting readmission in both hospitals. Methods: 100 subjects from an Egyptian hospital (MUH) and a similar number of patients from a Saudi one (TMH), who were readmitted within three months after being discharged, were randomly selected. Control groups consisted of 50 Egyptian patients and a similar number of Saudi patients, who were admitted only once during the last two years, were also selected randomly. All patients were diagnosed according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and Medication Adherence Rating Scale were used to assess social support and drug compliance. Results: The study found that most of the factors playing a role in early readmission in psychiatric hospitals were nearly the same in both studied hospitals. Male patients who were unemployed, unmarried, primary educated, who were diagnosed as mood disorders or schizophrenia, living in rural areas, and who were discharged without completing their treatment were associated more with early readmission in both studied hospitals. Number of previous admissions was directly correlated with duration of illness, low medication adherence and indirectly correlated to duration of last hospital admission and degree of perceived social support in both hospitals. Conclusions and recommendations: Many factors may play a role and considered as predictors of early re-hospitalization. So, early detection and management of these factors may help to decrease the cost and time expander.