Comparison between Users of Community Mental Health Services and Psychiatric Patients in Mental Health Related Facilities in Korea.

Lee, Soo Jung; Choi, Jung Kyoo; Jung, Un Jin; Jang, Hong Suk; Kim, Sunah; Park, Jong Ik

doi:2013.16.2.51

Korean J Schizophr Res > Volume 16(2); 2013 > Article

Original Article

Korean Journal of Schizophrenia Research 2013;16(2):51-61.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.16946/kjsr.2013.16.2.51 Published online October 31, 2013.

Comparison between Users of Community Mental Health Services and Psychiatric Patients in Mental Health Related Facilities in Korea.

Soo Jung Lee, Jung Kyoo Choi, Un Jin Jung, Hong Suk Jang, Sunah Kim, Jong Ik Park

¹Korea Suicide Prevention Center, Seoul, Korea.
²Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Korea. lugar@kangwon.ac.kr
³Seoul Eunpyeong Metropolitan Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
⁴Dr. Jang's Psychotherapeutic Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
⁵College of Nursing, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
⁶Department of Psychiatry, Kangwon National University School of Medicine, Chuncheon, Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to compare the characteristics of psychiatric inpatients in mental health related facilities and community mental health services-utilizing patients by diverse factors in Korea.
METHODS
Questionnaires were sent via mail to 140 standard mental health centers from October to December of 2008. 64 facilities responded and data of 461 mentally disabled who are registered at and utilize the services of these mental health centers were analyzed. T-test and cross-analysis were performed to determine the differences in the averages of the variables and the discrepancy in ratios, respectively.
RESULTS
Differences between long-term psychiatric inpatients and community mental health services-utilizing patients were seen in characteristics such as gender, age, type of medical coverage, family support systems, diagnosis, age of onset, duration of hospitalization, community-dwelling period, and clinical symptoms and functions. It was significantly short in length of stay in facilities in users of community mental health services with comparison to institutionalized patients.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that invigoration of community mental health services is an alternative that can help deter long-term hospitalization.

Key Words: Length of stay · Long-term hospitalization · Community mental health service · Community mental health center