Effects of Medication Management and Discharge Planning on Early Readmission of Psychiatrically Hospitalized Adolescents

Abstract

This study examines the effect of clinical stabilization strategies—medication management and discharge planning—on early readmission of psychiatrically hospitalized adolescents. Controlling for demographic and clinical factors, results showed the risk of readmission was higher for youths who had medications added to an existing medication regimen, were placed in group homes, or discharged to partial hospitalization programs. Overall, findings indicate that stabilization strategies developed collaboratively between psychiatrists and social workers can reduce early readmission. However, improved medication monitoring upon discharge is needed, and the study results raise questions about the use of partial hospitalization to compensate for premature discharge.

KEYWORDS:

• Inpatient psychiatric
• readmission
• medication management
• discharge planning
• aftercare
• children and adolescents

This study was supported in part by an NIMH T32 grant (MH-16242), and The Center for Health Care Strategies Inc., under the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Children in Managed Care Initiative (CIMC).