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Reinstitutionalization Following Psychiatric Discharge among VA Patients with Serious Mental Illness: A National Longitudinal Study

Psychiatric Quarterly volume 78, pages 279–286 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Patterns of reinstitutionalization following psychiatric hospitalization for individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) vary by medical and psychiatric health care settings. This report presents rates of reinstitutionalization across care settings for 35,527 patients following psychiatric discharge in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, a national health care system. Over a 7-year follow-up period, 30,417 patients (86%) were reinstitutionalized. Among these patients, 73% were initially reinstitutionalized to inpatient psychiatric settings. Homelessness, medical morbidity, and substance use were associated with increased risks for reinstitutionalization. Despite the VA’s increased emphasis on outpatient services delivery, the vast majority of patients experienced reinstitutionalization in the follow-up period. Study findings may inform efforts to refine psychiatric and medical assessment for service delivery for this vulnerable population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Mental Health Services, Outcomes, and Translation Section, University of Michigan, 4250 Plymouth Road, Box 5765, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Cheryl Irmiter, John F. McCarthy, Kristen L. Barry & Frederic C. Blow

  2. Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Services Research and Development Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    John F. McCarthy, Kristen L. Barry, Soheil Soliman & Frederic C. Blow

Authors
  1. Cheryl Irmiter
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  2. John F. McCarthy
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  3. Kristen L. Barry
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  4. Soheil Soliman
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  5. Frederic C. Blow
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Correspondence to Cheryl Irmiter.

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Irmiter, C., McCarthy, J.F., Barry, K.L. et al. Reinstitutionalization Following Psychiatric Discharge among VA Patients with Serious Mental Illness: A National Longitudinal Study. Psychiatr Q 78, 279–286 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-007-9046-y

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