Treatment of Depressed Patients in General Hospitals With Scatter Beds, Cluster Beds, and Psychiatric Units
Abstract
Records of 725 patients with a primary discharge diagnosis of depression were reviewed at nine general hospitals: three with psychiatric units, three in which patients were treated in beds grouped together on a medical or surgical floor (cluster beds), and three in which patients were treated in beds dispersed among medical and surgical beds (scatter beds). Patients treated in psychiatric units most commonly presented with suicidal or homicidal indicators, most frequently received antidepressants, and had the longest stays. Patients treated in scatter beds tended to present with somatic complaints, were least likely to receive antidepressants, and had the shortest hospital stays. Patients treated in cluster beds presented with intermediate symptoms and bad stays of intermediate duration. Although dangerous or psychotic patients may be most appropriately treated in units, other patient groups may be safely and effectively treated at lower cost in less specialized inpatient settings.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).
