TY - JOUR

T1 - Stability of admission diagnoses; data from a specialized in-patient treatment facility for dual diagnosis

AU - Düring, Signe Wegmann

AU - Nordgaard, Julie

AU - Mårtensson, Solvej

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Aim: We investigated the stability of diagnoses during admission over an 11-year period in patients admitted to a highly specialized integrated dual diagnosis treatment facility in Denmark using diagnosis coded in patient charts. Materials and methods: Admission and discharge diagnoses from patient files were examined for stability of primary diagnosis and association with year of admission, age, sex, and duration of admission, in 1570 patients from 2007 to 2017. Results: A vast proportion (69.6%) of the patients retained their diagnosis during a 3-month admission. Stability was highest for schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses and lowest for unspecified diagnosis. Type of primary diagnosis, age, and length of admission was associated with lower likelihood of a stable primary diagnosis. Conclusions: Long-term admission for psychiatric patients with substance use disorder (SUD) was significantly associated with stability of diagnosis. The finding calls for longer observation of dual diagnosis patients to ensure that relevant diagnosis is given, and consequently that the appropriate clinical treatment such as psychopharmacological as well as non-pharmacological intervention can be applied.

AB - Aim: We investigated the stability of diagnoses during admission over an 11-year period in patients admitted to a highly specialized integrated dual diagnosis treatment facility in Denmark using diagnosis coded in patient charts. Materials and methods: Admission and discharge diagnoses from patient files were examined for stability of primary diagnosis and association with year of admission, age, sex, and duration of admission, in 1570 patients from 2007 to 2017. Results: A vast proportion (69.6%) of the patients retained their diagnosis during a 3-month admission. Stability was highest for schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses and lowest for unspecified diagnosis. Type of primary diagnosis, age, and length of admission was associated with lower likelihood of a stable primary diagnosis. Conclusions: Long-term admission for psychiatric patients with substance use disorder (SUD) was significantly associated with stability of diagnosis. The finding calls for longer observation of dual diagnosis patients to ensure that relevant diagnosis is given, and consequently that the appropriate clinical treatment such as psychopharmacological as well as non-pharmacological intervention can be applied.

KW - Dual diagnosis

KW - length of stay (LOS)

KW - psychopathology

KW - substance-related disorders

U2 - 10.1080/08039488.2020.1793381

DO - 10.1080/08039488.2020.1793381

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32720838

AN - SCOPUS:85088823136

VL - 75

SP - 54

EP - 62

JO - Nordisk Psykiatrisk Tidsskrift

JF - Nordisk Psykiatrisk Tidsskrift

SN - 0803-9496

IS - 1

ER -