Stability of admission diagnoses; data from a specialized in-patient treatment facility for dual diagnosis

Abstract

Aim

We investigated the stability of diagnoses during admission over an 11-year period in patients admitted to a highly specialized integrated dual diagnosis treatment facility in Denmark using diagnosis coded in patient charts.

Materials and methods

Admission and discharge diagnoses from patient files were examined for stability of primary diagnosis and association with year of admission, age, sex, and duration of admission, in 1570 patients from 2007 to 2017.

Results

A vast proportion (69.6%) of the patients retained their diagnosis during a 3-month admission. Stability was highest for schizophrenia spectrum diagnoses and lowest for unspecified diagnosis. Type of primary diagnosis, age, and length of admission was associated with lower likelihood of a stable primary diagnosis.

Conclusions

Long-term admission for psychiatric patients with substance use disorder (SUD) was significantly associated with stability of diagnosis. The finding calls for longer observation of dual diagnosis patients to ensure that relevant diagnosis is given, and consequently that the appropriate clinical treatment such as psychopharmacological as well as non-pharmacological intervention can be applied.

Keywords:

• Dual diagnosis
• substance-related disorders
• psychopathology
• length of stay (LOS)

Acknowledgments

Katrine Schepelern Johansen, MSc, PhD.

Jakob Krarup, MD.

Disclosure statement

None of the authors has any conflicts of interest to declare.

Data availability statement

Data not available on request due to privacy/ethical and legal restrictions.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Mental Health Services of the Capital Region, Denmark.

Notes on contributors

Signe Wegmann Düring

Signe Wegmann Düring, MD PhD, involved in Dual Diagnosis research from a medical perspective.

Julie Nordgaard

Julie Nordgaard, MD, PhD, primarily involved in research on psychopathology and diagnostics.

Solvej Mårtensson

Solvej Mårtensson, MSc, PhD, background in Public Health and part of a specialized Dual Diagnosis research team.