Dietmar Winkler1, Alexander Kaltenboeck2, Richard Frey3, Siegfried Kasper3, Edda Pjrek3. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: dietmar.winkler@meduniwien.ac.at. 2. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, United Kingdom. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this repeated cross-sectional study was to compare patients from a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) over ≫30 years regarding their diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics. METHOD: Three samples including 100 consecutive inpatients each from the Viennese PICU were submitted to a chart review: sample no. 1 from the years 1985/86, no. 2 from 1995/96 and no. 3 from 2007/08. RESULTS: Changes in referral modes were associated with a decrease of patients with substance induced disorders and an increase of patients with affective disorders over time. The rate of admissions after accidents and suicides was stable. The use of cranial MRI increased, while intravenous psychopharmacotherapy and parenteral nutrition decreased. Involuntary admission occurred in 43% and in 37% of patients physical restraints were necessary. We saw a shift from tricyclic antidepressants to SSRIs and SNRIs from sample 1 to 3. Likewise, we observed the emergence of atypical antipsychotics and a reduction of use of typical neuroleptics mainly from sample 2 to 3. The percentage of patients receiving benzodiazepines increased over time, while the mean dosage of benzodiazepines decreased. 7% of patients received electroconvulsive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The changes over time in our samples reflect the medical progress made during the last decades. Future studies should focus on evaluation of efficacy of psychiatric intensive care using standardized measurements.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this repeated cross-sectional study was to compare patients from a psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) over ≫30 years regarding their diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics. METHOD: Three samples including 100 consecutive inpatients each from the Viennese PICU were submitted to a chart review: sample no. 1 from the years 1985/86, no. 2 from 1995/96 and no. 3 from 2007/08. RESULTS: Changes in referral modes were associated with a decrease of patients with substance induced disorders and an increase of patients with affective disorders over time. The rate of admissions after accidents and suicides was stable. The use of cranial MRI increased, while intravenous psychopharmacotherapy and parenteral nutrition decreased. Involuntary admission occurred in 43% and in 37% of patients physical restraints were necessary. We saw a shift from tricyclic antidepressants to SSRIs and SNRIs from sample 1 to 3. Likewise, we observed the emergence of atypical antipsychotics and a reduction of use of typical neuroleptics mainly from sample 2 to 3. The percentage of patients receiving benzodiazepines increased over time, while the mean dosage of benzodiazepines decreased. 7% of patients received electroconvulsive therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The changes over time in our samples reflect the medical progress made during the last decades. Future studies should focus on evaluation of efficacy of psychiatric intensive care using standardized measurements.
Authors: Marleen M M Swoboda; Lucie Bartova; Marlene Dremel; Ulrich Rabl; Anton Laggner; Richard Frey Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-05-18 Impact factor: 5.435