Psychiatric Comorbidity, Length of Hospital Stays and Readmission Rates in Opiate Addicts Treated in Inpatient Service

Abstract

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to investigate psychiatric comorbidity, long hospitalization reasons and readmission reasons of opiate addicts treated in inpatient service. Methods: The study data consisted of patient records treated at Gazi University Hospital Alcohol and Drug Addiction Clinic between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2017. Four hundred eighty four people with primary diagnosis of opiate addiction were included in the analysis. One hundred of these patients had recurrent hospitalizations. Results: While the average age of the sample was 29.74±7.05, 89.9% (n=435) were male. The presence of depression as a comorbidity in opiate addiction increased the length of hospitalization 3.3 times [odds ratio (OR): 3.362] and the psychotic symptom 5.4 times (OR: 5.417). In addition to opiate addiction, the diagnosis of anxiety disorder increased the risk of readmission 3.3 times (OR: 3.321), while the diagnosis of personality disorder reduced the risk of readmission 4.58 times (OR: 0.218). It was observed that 5% (n=5) of the patients were re-admitted within the first month and 29% (n=29) within the first three months. Conclusion: One of every three opiate addicts is admitted in the first three months after discharge. Having anxiety disorder increases recurrent hospitalization 3.3 times, while having personality disorder decreases 4.5 times. Further studies should be conducted on whether short hospitalization periods increase readmission rates.