Involuntary admission in first psychotic episodes: related factors

Abstract

Introduction: The great majority of involuntary admissions at acute hospital units are related to severe psychiatric diseases. The aim of this study is to determine which are the characteristics and associated factors in first psychotic episodes not due to medical illness.

Method: It had been evaluated, 61 first psychotic episodes hospitalised in a General Hospital Psychiatric Unit. It was used a protocol with the SCID, SCID-PANSS, DSM-IV criteria, unified clinical history, and PANSS, and Philips scales.

Results: 67.2% of the patients were commited to the hospital. Only the PANNS positive subscale was significantly associated with the involuntary admission.

Conclusions: There is a high admission rate of involuntary inpatients with first psychotic episode. The involuntary admission is highly related to psychotic positive symptoms.