Assessment of Continuing Hospitalization Judgement Guideline in Mental Health Review Board

Kim, Siekyeong; Kim, Youn Sil

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aims of this study are to test the applicability of the continuing hospitalization judgement guidelines of The Primary Mental Health Review Board and to provide the basic data for the development of valid guidelines.
METHODS
The request sheets submitted to Cheongju Primary Mental Health Review Board for continuing hospitalization from April 2009 to July 2001 were reviewed. The results according to the guidelines were compared with board's final decision. The aim in making these comparison was to determine the factors affecting the board's decisions.
RESULTS
Cheongju Primary Mental Health Review Board assessed 1223 requests during the period, and declined 65 of those requests. The sensitivity and specificity for dissent of the algorithm in the guidelines are 51.6% and 97.0%, respectively. The patterns of data in the sheets from the mental facilities were different from the psychiatric hospital or the clinic. The presence of a guidance's signature, mental status, and specialist's opinion could be factors affecting the board's decision.
CONCLUSION
The result suggests that distinguished guidelines are needed for mental facilities. Social support systems and functional impairments may be meaningless because they did not affect the board's decision or could be replaced by other factors. The algorithm and judgement system should be revised to increase sensitivity for dissent. Further research is required concerning the development of standardized guidelines on the judgement for continuing hospitalization.