Psychotropic drug changes contributing to readmissions in medically hospitalized psychiatric patients: A retrospective study.

Background: Psychotropic drug changes during medical hospitalizations may lead to psychiatric and medical readmissions.

Methods: One-year hospitalization records of nursing home patients with chronic mental illness and a psychotropic drug change during medical admission were reviewed. We calculated the readmission rates for 30, 60, and 90 days; the classes of the psychotropic drugs changed; the reason for change; and the specialties of the responsible physicians. The readmission rates were compared with those of an age-matched control group.

Results: The changes were associated with an increase in psychiatric readmission rates of 2.7% (30 days), 5.4% (60 days), and 14.9% (90 days). The 90 days readmission rate reached statistical significance (14.9% vs 2.7%; OR = 6.29; P = .020). The family practice team was responsible for the highest psychiatric readmission rate (18.4%). The most significant reasons for change included human errors (up to 40%), which is alarming.

Conclusions: Judicious changes, attempts at re-titration, and appropriate documentation of reasons for change on discharge records may reduce the readmission rates.