Admission To General Hospital Psychiatric Wards in Italy

Abstract

Epidemiological comparisons carried out in Italian settings regarded very different areas. In this paper, we investigate the effects on the hospital activity of two different organizational models of care in two neighbouring areas in Northern Italy, Cremona and Mantua, very similar in sociodemographic features. Cremona is hospital oriented, while Mantua has well developed community services. All the patients of the catchment areas admitted during 1986 were studied. Age distribution for males, marital status, education and percentage of employed were very similar in the two samples. However, age distribution and mean age at the time of the first ever psychiatric admission for females were different, as well as the percentage of patients living alone and the percentage of patients discharged home. But the cogent finding was the number of admissions, much higher in Cremona than in Mantua, especially for some age groups. Some explanations of this strong difference, regarding two neighbouring and similar areas, are discussed.

Characteristics and activities of acute psychiatric in-patient facilities: national survey in Italy

“…Admission rates show marked variation Admission rates show marked variation across different areas -a finding already across different areas -a finding already reported in Italy even in a comparison of reported in Italy even in a comparison of neighbouring areas (de Girolamo neighbouring areas (de Girolamo et al et al, , 1988) -related to variability in exclusion 1988) -related to variability in exclusion criteria and to the range and quality of criteria and to the range and quality of community services. Current variability in community services.…”