Howard, Louise M., Rigon, Elena, Cole, Laura ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7194-5616, Lawlor, Caroline and Johnson, Sonia (2008) Admission to women's crisis houses or to psychiatric wards: women's pathways to admission. Psychiatric Services, 59 (12). pp. 1443-1449. ISSN 1075-2730

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Objective
This study compared the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and pathways to admission for women admitted to women’s crisis houses and to psychiatric hospitals. A women’s crisis house is a residential mental health crisis facility for women who would otherwise be considered for voluntary hospital admission.
Methods
A survey of all 388 female admissions to women’s crisis houses and psychiatric hospitals in four boroughs of London during a 12-week period in 2006 was conducted with questionnaires administered to key workers involved in the admissions.
Results
Pathways to admission were significantly less complex for women admitted to the crisis houses (fewer preadmission contacts with police, emergency departments, and other services). Women admitted to psychiatric wards were more likely to require supervision or observation. A multivariate analysis of data for the 245 voluntary admissions indicated that women admitted to women’s crisis houses were significantly less likely to have a care coordinator (odds ratio [OR]=.528) or to have gone to an accident and emergency department (OR=.214) before admission. No other differences were found between the two groups.
Conclusions
Pathways to admission were somewhat different for women admitted to women’s crisis houses, but few clinical or sociodemographic differences were found between the two groups. Women’s crisis houses may be a viable alternative to traditional wards for voluntary patients not needing intensive supervision and observation. Research should examine whether women’s crisis houses are as effective as traditional inpatient services in treating women with acute psychiatric problems.

Item Type:	Article
Identifier:	10.1176/ps.2008.59.12.1443
Additional Information:	This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Psychiatric Services. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1176/ps.2008.59.12.1443
Subjects:	Medicine and health > Mental health Social sciences
Related URLs:	Publisher
Depositing User:	Laura Cole
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2021 15:30
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2024 16:05
URI:	https://repository.uwl.ac.uk/id/eprint/7711

Actions (login required)

View Item