Date of Submission

2006

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Robert A. DiTomasso, Ph.D., ABPP

First Advisor

Robert A. DiTomasso, Ph.D., ABPP, Chairperson

Second Advisor

Barbara A. Golden, Psy.D., ABPP

Third Advisor

Harvey M. Spikol, Ph.D.

Abstract

This study retrospectively reviewed 2,753 members from a managed behavioral health care organization who experienced at least one psychiatric inpatient hospitalization between July 1, 2003 and December 31, 2004. Demographic and clinical variables were examined in an effort to distinguish the factors that were present between members treated with one hospitalization versus members who required re-hospitalization. Readmission for the present study was defined as a psychiatric re-hospitalization within a 180 day timeframe. Particular focus included analyzing the variables of length of treatment, age groups, presence of a psychotic disorder, history of inpatient treatment, and managed care account funding types. The sample set of the present study was randomly split into two groups for the purpose of replication. Similar results were found between the two sample sets. When comparing psychiatric readmissions to one-time admissions, there were significant differences between longer and shorter lengths of treatment, between members with psychotic disorders versus non-psychotic disorders, and between members with and without a previous inpatient hospitalization. Findings indicated that a member, who experienced either a long length of treatment, the presence of a psychotic disorder, or a history of previous hospitalizations, was more likely to experience an inpatient psychiatric readmission. No significant differences were found between the comparable age groups of children and adults to adolescents and older adults, nor account types of non-risk accounts to full-risk accounts.

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