Korean J Epidemiol.  1994 Dec;16(2):181-196.

A Descriptive Epidemiologic Study on Accidents of the Closed-Ward Patients in a Psychiatric Hospital

• Kim ES
• Lee WC

Abstract

This study was done to investigate some selected epidemiological characteristics of accidents occured in the closed-ward of a psychiatric hospital in Seoul during one year period from Jan. 1, 1993 toDec. 31, 1993. For this study, 1,570 accidents(702 patients) reported from 1,833 discharged patients were analysed. Major findings obtained from this study were as follows; 1. Prevalence rate of the accidents were 38 persons per 100 discharged pateints and 86 accident spells per 100 discharged patients. 2. The highest risk of accident was noticed in the group of male, 20-29 age, middle school graduate, and divorced. 3. By diagnostic category, accident rates per 100 discharged patients were 339 spells in seizure disor-der, 102 in substance abuse, 93 in schizophrenia, 69 in alcoholism, and 61 in mood disorder. 4. By the period, the accident rate was higher within I month after admission, and the rate was higher in April and November, Wednesday, the day of family visiting, and during day time. 5. Accident types were violent behavior(53%), alcohol drinking(12%), emergency for physical episode(9%), elopement(7%), property damage (5%), self-inflicted injury and suicidal attempt (4%). Severity of damage was usually minimal, and the persons who were commonly involved in the accidents were the petients rather than him self and therapist.

MeSH Terms

Alcoholism
Divorce
Emergencies
Epidemiologic Studies*
Hospitals, Psychiatric*
Humans
Male
Mood Disorders
Prevalence
Schizophrenia
Seizures
Seoul
Substance-Related Disorders