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The Impact of Psychiatric Comorbidity on General Hospital Length of Stay

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Abstract

Medical inpatients often suffer from comorbid psychiatric illness, which has been shown in previous studies to be associated with longer hospital stays. The present analysis used a large representative dataset to examine the impact of patient demographic and clinical characteristics on the relationship between psychiatric comorbidity and hospital length of stay. Analyses showed the existence of a psychiatric comorbidity predicted longer hospital stays for medical inpatients. However, in comparison to previous research, this effect was attenuated in this sample. Patients with mental disorders who were elderly, on Medicare, and those with schizophrenia or mood disorders were especially at risk for slightly longer lengths of stay.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Mental Health (F31MH067349 to Dr. Bressi and K01MH066839 to Dr. Marcus).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, 300 Airdale Road, Bryn Mawr, PA, 19010, USA

    Sara K. Bressi M.S.W., Ph.D. (Assistant Professor)

  2. School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

    Steven C. Marcus Ph.D. (Research Associate Professor)

  3. School of Social Policy and Practice, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

    Phyllis L. Solomon Ph.D. (Professor)

Authors
  1. Sara K. Bressi M.S.W., Ph.D.
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  2. Steven C. Marcus Ph.D.
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  3. Phyllis L. Solomon Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Sara K. Bressi M.S.W., Ph.D..

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Bressi, S.K., Marcus, S.C. & Solomon, P.L. The Impact of Psychiatric Comorbidity on General Hospital Length of Stay. Psychiatr Q 77, 203–209 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-006-9007-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-006-9007-x

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