Community health services and risk of readmission in public psychiatric hospitals of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2005-2011.

INTRODUCTION: The readmission phenomenon in psychiatry not only reflects the severity and chronicity of the underlying disorders, but also indicates the quality of mental healthcare. In the context of the Brazilian mental healthcare reform, no study has included the availability of outpatient care among the potential determinants for psychiatric readmission.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the availability of community healthcare resources at the place of residence with the risk of psychiatric readmission.

METHODS: All admission records from 2005 to 2011 in the two public psychiatric hospitals of Belo Horizonte were included (n=19,723). Variables related to patients and characteristics of hospitalization were collected, and indicators of community healthcare coverage were calculated for each place of residence yearly. The outcome of interest was early (<7 days), medium-term (8-30 days) and late (31-365 days) readmissions. The analysis was based on Cox regressions.

RESULTS: The coverage of basic health units and of psychiatrists was associated with lower readmission risks. Coverage of specialized centers for psychosocial attention (Centros de Atenção Psicossocial [CAPS]) and psychologists did not show any protective effects. Young, male patients and those residing outside the capital had greater risk of early readmission. Compared to other psychotic disorders, mood disorders and neurotic disorders were seen as protective factors for readmission.

CONCLUSION: Regionalized attention offered by the CAPS did not result in reduced readmission risks.