Severity of Social Impairments: As Distinguishing Factors for Inpatient Admissions Among Persons with Schizophrenia (Ce ARTICLE: 1 CE CREDIT‪)‬

Abstract Inpatient admissions are common among persons with schizophrenia and are associated with financial burdens to society, loss of freedom, and increased stigma. However, inpatient admission decisions by mental health professionals are typically based on presenting psychotic symptoms and current danger to self or others. This study examined whether specific social impairments identifiable by mental health professionals differentiated acute inpatient versus stable outpatient persons with schizophrenia. Participants (100 from a stable case management population, 113 from an inpatient psychiatric facility) were assessed for various social impairments in order to test whether behavioral factors beyond psychiatric symptoms predicted inpatient admissions. A discriminant analysis revealed that recent family relationship problems, interpersonal skill problems, socio-legal problems, self-care deficits, and lower age accurately distinguished inpatient persons from those in a stable case management population. Social symptoms identifiable by mental health professionals can therefore help predict the need for inpatient admissions among persons with schizophrenia. Implications for psychotherapists are discussed.