Gary R Hoffman1, Shofiq Islam. 1. Department of Maxillofacial and Head and Neck Surgery, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify and assess the demographics and presence of preexisting psychiatric disorders in an adult patient cohort admitted for the management of a facial injury. STUDY DESIGN: The analysis included demographics, type of facial injury, length of hospital stay, and psychiatric diagnosis according to criteria as set out in the DSM-IV-TR-2000. RESULTS: We identified 71 patients who had confirmed psychiatric comorbidity. A range of intentional, unintentional, and recidivist injuries were identified. We found a significant association between length of hospital stay and the number of diagnostic categories of preexisting psychopathology (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study further confirms that there is a subgroup of facially injured patients with preexisting psychiatric illness which often goes unrecognized and untreated. Early recognition, together with appropriate referral to and management by liaison psychiatry may play an important role in reducing the rate of facial trauma recidivism.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify and assess the demographics and presence of preexisting psychiatric disorders in an adult patient cohort admitted for the management of a facial injury. STUDY DESIGN: The analysis included demographics, type of facial injury, length of hospital stay, and psychiatric diagnosis according to criteria as set out in the DSM-IV-TR-2000. RESULTS: We identified 71 patients who had confirmed psychiatric comorbidity. A range of intentional, unintentional, and recidivist injuries were identified. We found a significant association between length of hospital stay and the number of diagnostic categories of preexisting psychopathology (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study further confirms that there is a subgroup of facially injured patients with preexisting psychiatric illness which often goes unrecognized and untreated. Early recognition, together with appropriate referral to and management by liaison psychiatry may play an important role in reducing the rate of facial trauma recidivism.