Associations between early consultation-liaison psychiatry intervention and subsequent length of stay in general hospital

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research 2018-06, Vol.109, p.143-144
• Main Authors: Vulser, H., Vinant, V., Chatellier, G., Limosin, F., Lemogne, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adjustment; Associations; Behavior disorders; Diagnosis; Early intervention; French language; Health care expenditures; Hospitalization; Intensive care; Intensive treatment; Intervention; Length of stay; Liaison; Liaison psychiatry; Linear analysis; Medical diagnosis; Psychiatry; Residence; Severity; Surgical outcomes
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.03.166

Aims: Psychiatric comorbidities are frequent in patients admitted in general hospital, with an estimated prevalence around 30%. Consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) interventions may reduce the length of stay but the impact of early interventions remains largely unknown. We retrospectively investigated the association between the timing of CLP intervention and subsequent length of stay in general hospital. Methods: We included all patients admitted in the European Georges Pompidou Hospital between 2008 and 2016 with a first CLP intervention. Patients who received the intervention in the 48 first hours of their stay were defined as having an early intervention. We used general linear models to examine the association between early intervention and subsequent length of stay after adjustment for age. sex, year of admission, place of residence, admission in intensive care unit, surgical condition and psychiatric diagnosis. Statistical interactions were tested with all covariates. Results: A total of 5019 patients were included, with 1089 (21.7%) receiving an early intervention. Mean subsequent length of stay in those patients was 8.49 days versus 13.34 in patients with later intervention. Subsequent length of stay was negatively associated with early intervention (β=-5.15; p