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Evaluating the Use of a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit: Is Ethnicity a Risk Factor for Admission?

Author

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  • Anthony Feinstein

    (Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto; Department of Psychiatry, Room FG38, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M4N 3M5 Tel: (416)480-4216; Fax: (416)480-4613; ant.feinstein@utoronto.ca)

  • Frank Holloway

    (Westways Resource Centre and Health Services Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, de Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AX United Kingdom.)

Abstract

Objective: This paper presents a descriptive study, undertaken in 1993, of a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) serving a deprived inner-city area, investigating the role of ethnicity as a risk factor for admission to the unit. Methods: Clinical and demographic data were collected on consecutive admission to a PICU. Global Assessment of Function Scale scores were rated on admission and at discharge from the unit. Results: The majority of patients were male (63%) and the commonest DSM-IV diagnoses were schizophrenia (42%) and bipolar affective disorder (24%). Average length of stay was 13 days with patients making significant improvement in functioning during their stay. Fifty-five percent of PICU admissions came from ethnic minorities (compared with 25.6% of total hospital admissions and 20.9% of the local catchment area population aged between 16 and 65 years). There was no evidence that ethnic minority patients were being inappropriately admitted to the PICU. Conclusions: It is likely that a variety of factors contributed to the high rate of PICU admission amongst ethnic minority patients, including an increased prevalence of major mental illness and more frequent cannabis abuse.

Suggested Citation

  • Anthony Feinstein & Frank Holloway, 2002. "Evaluating the Use of a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit: Is Ethnicity a Risk Factor for Admission?," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 48(1), pages 38-46, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:48:y:2002:i:1:p:38-46
    DOI: 10.1177/002076402128783073
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frank Holloway & Marisa Silverman & Tony Wainwright, 1992. "'Not Waving But Drowning': Psychiatric Inpatient Services in East Lambeth 1990," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 38(2), pages 131-137, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Len Bowers & Debra Jeffery & Hulya Bilgin & Manuela Jarrett & Alan Simpson & Julia Jones, 2008. "Psychiatric Intensive Care Units: a Literature Review," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 54(1), pages 56-68, January.

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