Schizophrenia patients discharged against medical advice at a mental hospital in Taiwan.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the risk factors associated with discharge against medical advice (AMA) and compare the time to rehospitalization between patients with AMA discharges and those with regular discharges.

Methods: All schizophrenia inpatients discharged from a psychiatric hospital between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2006 were monitored. The clinical variables were compared between the patients discharged AMA and those with regular discharges.

Factors predicting transferal after psychiatric emergency management in the elderly.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the demographic and clinical characteristics that differentiate between elderly and non-elderly visitors in the psychiatric emergency room (ER), and to identify factors predicting transferal after psychiatric emergency management in the elderly.

Methods: Data were collected over four years for patients who visited the psychiatric ER. The elderly were defined as patients older than 65 years old.