Suicidal ideation in patients with mental illness and concurrent substance use: analyses of national census data in Norway.

BACKGROUND: Suicidal ideation may signal potential risk for future suicidal behaviors and death. We examined the prevalence of recent suicidal ideation in patients with mental illness and concurrent substance use and explored the clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with suicidal ideation in this patient subgroup, which represents a particular risk group for adverse psychiatric outcomes. METHODS: We used national cross-sectional census data in Norway collected from 25,525 patients in specialized mental health services. The analytic sample comprised 3,842 patients with concurrent substance use, defined as having a co-morbid substance use disorder or who reported recent regular alcohol use/occasional illicit drug use. Data included suicidal ideation measured in relation to the current treatment episode, sociodemographic characteristics and ICD-10 diagnoses. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to examine differential characteristics between patients with and without suicidal ideation. RESULTS: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 25.8%. The suicidal ideation rates were particularly high for those with personality disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, and depression, and for alcohol and sedatives compared with other substances. Patients with suicidal ideation were characterized by being younger, having single marital status, and having poorly perceived social relationships with family and friends. CONCLUSION: Suicidal ideation in patients with mental illness and concurrent substance use was associated with a number of distinct characteristics. These results might help contribute to an increased focus on a subgroup of individuals at particular risk for suicidality and support suicide prevention efforts in specialized mental health services.

Substance use among patients in specialized mental health services in Norway: prevalence and patient characteristics based on a national census.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and demographic variation in the prevalence of substance use among the general psychiatric population in Norway. METHODS: A national census in psychiatric institutions and outpatient clinics was conducted. Data were returned for 2358 inpatients (response rate, 65%) and 23,167 outpatients (response rate, 60%). Substance use was measured based on substance use disorder diagnosis or reported substance use in the last 4 weeks (alcohol 2-4 days a week or more frequently/illicit drug use). Regression analyses controlling for demographic and sociodemographic characteristics were carried out. RESULTS: Substance use was identified in 32.4% of inpatients and 13.9% of outpatients. The most frequently reported substances used were alcohol, sedatives and cannabis. Among inpatients, the prevalence of substance use was highest in patients with schizophrenia, personality disorders and anxiety disorders. Among outpatients, the prevalence was highest in patients with schizophrenia and other psychoses. Inpatients with anxiety disorders and outpatients with schizophrenia and other psychoses had a significantly higher risk of substance use than other patients. In both samples, the prevalence of substance use was higher among males, 24 to 29-year-olds and the most socially deprived. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further knowledge about patients at risk for co-morbid substance abuse and poor treatment outcomes. Clinicians may consider targeting patients with schizophrenia and other psychoses, young males and those who are socially deprived in efforts to prevent emerging substance abuse and improve outcomes.

Risk of violence among patients in psychiatric treatment: results from a national census.

BACKGROUND: Adverse media coverage of isolated incidents affects the public perception of the risk of violent behavior among people with mental illness. However, the risk of violence is studied most frequently among inpatients, which falsely exaggerates the prevalence of people with mental illness because the majority of individuals receive treatment as outpatients. AIM: To estimate the prevalence of the risk of violence among inpatients and outpatients in psychiatric treatment, as well as the associations with gender, age, socio-economic status and co-morbid substance use disorders in all major diagnostic categories. METHODS: We conducted a national census of patients in specialist mental health services in Norway, which included 65% of all inpatients (N = 2,358) and 60% of all outpatients (N = 23,124). RESULTS: The prevalence of the risk of violence was 32% among inpatients and 8% among outpatients, where 80% of the patients in specialist mental health services were outpatients. If we weight the prevalence rates accordingly, less than 2% of the patients in specialist mental health services had a high risk of violent behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The stigma attached to those with mental illness is not consistent with the absence or low to modest risk of violent behavior in 98% of the patient group. Substance use disorders must be given priority in the treatment of all patient groups. Mental health care in general and interventions that target violent behavior in particular should address the problems and needs of these patients better, especially those who are unemployed, have a low level of education and have a background of being a refugee or an immigrant.

Patterns of mental health care utilisation: distribution of services and its predictability from routine data.

OBJECTIVES: Explore if a multi-dimensional analytic approach to routinely registered data provides a comprehensive way to characterise utilisation patterns, and to test if the patients' functional status is a predictor for the use of services. METHOD: We linked register contact data during a two-year period, including all types of specialised mental health services, in the population of a Norwegian county. Cox regression was applied in the models for prediction of admission and readmission. RESULTS: Great variability and complexity in patterns of utilisation were found, including multiple transitions between in-patient and out-patient statuses. The distribution of services was characterised by a small group of patients receiving a disproportionally large amount of resources. A majority of 77% appeared as out-patients only. Severity of symptoms as well as of dysfunction, as assessed by the split GAF-score, differentiated amongst utilisation groups. Both dimensions were significant predictors for admission. In contrast, only the severity of dysfunction predicted readmission. CONCLUSION: Multi-dimensional data architecture and analytical perspectives can be applied to routine data, and should be used to analyse the diverse patterns of utilisation. Risk populations could be predicted by routinely registered information on functional status.

Comparison of social and sociodemographic characteristics and treatment goals of persons with alcohol versus drug use disorders: Result from a national census of inpatients in specialized treatment for substance use.

INTRODUCTION: We examined differences in social and sociodemographic characteristics and treatment goals between people with primary alcohol use disorder (AUD) versus those with a primary drug use disorder receiving inpatient treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD). METHODS: A national census utilizing a cross sectional design included 56 of 60 specialized inpatient SUD treatment clinics in Norway and all patients receiving treatment on a specific date (responserate = 70%). Data on substance use, social and sociodemographic characteristics, and patient-reported treatment goals were collected. Patients were classified as having primary AUD or a drug use disorder based on the main SUD diagnosis relevant to the treatment episode. RESULTS: The analytic sample included 1093 patients. Patients with primary AUD (n = 362) were more often older, had a higher educational level and income from work, and lived in permanent housing compared with patients with a drug use disorder (n = 731). Patients with AUD were more likely to have good relationships with friends. The higher frequency of reported reduced substance use (versus quitting substance use) as the treatment goal among AUD patients disappeared when controlled for sociodemographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge about the different characteristics of inpatients with AUD versus a drug use disorder is relevant when conducting research involving the SUD treatment population and for facilitating treatment. The lower frequency of perceived support from friends among patients with a drug use disorder suggests a need for targeted efforts in (re)building supportive social relationships for inpatients being treated for SUD.

Unplanned admissions to inpatient psychiatric treatment and services received prior to admission.

BACKGROUND: Inpatient bed numbers are continually being reduced but are not being replaced with adequate alternatives in primary health care. There is a considerable risk that eventually all inpatient treatment will be unplanned, because planned or elective treatments are superseded by urgent needs when capacity is reduced. AIMS OF THE STUDY: To estimate the rate of unplanned admissions to inpatient psychiatric treatment facilities in Norway and analyse the difference between patients with unplanned and planned admissions regarding services received during the three months prior to admission as well as clinical, demographical and socioeconomic characteristics of patients. METHOD: Unplanned admissions were defined as all urgent and involuntary admissions including unplanned readmissions. National mapping of inpatients was conducted in all inpatient treatment psychiatric wards in Norway on a specific date in 2012. Binary logit regressions were performed to compare patients who had unplanned admissions with patients who had planned admissions (i.e., the analyses were conditioned on admission to inpatient psychiatric treatment). RESULTS: Patients with high risk of unplanned admission are suffering from severe mental illness, have low functional level indicated by the need for housing services, high risk for suicide attempt and of being violent, low education and born outside Norway. CONCLUSION: Specialist mental health services should support the local services in their efforts to prevent unplanned admissions by providing counselling, short inpatient stays, outpatient treatment and ambulatory outpatient psychiatry services. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICIES: This paper suggests the rate of unplanned admissions as a quality indicator and considers the introduction of economic incentives in the income models at both service levels.

Effect of inhaled corticosteroids on forearm bone mineral density: the HUNT study, Norway.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) on bone mineral density (BMD) in an observational longitudinal study. METHODS: In 1995-97, as part of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study, Norway, 10,941 subjects aged 20 yr or more, either reporting asthma diagnosis/asthma-related symptoms or randomly selected, were interviewed, underwent spirometry and had their forearm BMD assessed. Among these, 4705 persons were invited to follow-up interview and bone densitometry in 2001; a total of 2848 subjects were eligible for analyses. RESULTS: Use of corticosteroids for respiratory diseases was reported by 1262 subjects, and 528 subjects had used ICS at both baseline and follow-up. The yearly loss of adjusted forearm distal BMD was higher in those reporting use of ICS at both baseline and follow-up compared to subjects without respiratory symptoms. In women the figures were 3.14 versus 2.26 mg/cm2, whilst in men they were 3.76 versus 1.92 mg/cm2 (both p<0.01). No significant association was found between loss of BMD and neither daily dose nor duration of ICS use. Reduced lung function (forced expiratory flow in 1s) was an independent risk factor for increased bone loss in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: ICS users had greater bone loss at the forearm compared to ICS naive persons, but no significant dose-response effect between ICS and BMD was found. Residual confounding by disease severity cannot be ruled out, but even in case of an ICS causal effect, this should have minor clinical significance in most patients using low to moderate doses of ICS.

Seasonal variation in suicides and in admissions to hospital for mania and depression.

BACKGROUND: The influence of seasons on mood disorders is controversial. OBJECTIVE: To examine monthly variations in admissions for mania and depressions including variations with sex and age and correlations with frequencies of suicides. METHODS: All admissions for mania or depression (N=4341) in a population of 1,800,000 with 35,285 admissions in the years 1992-1996 were analysed. All 14,503 suicides in Norway the years 1969-1996 were also analysed. RESULTS: Admissions for depression had a significant monthly variation for women (chi(2)=29.78, df=11, P<0.005) with the highest peak in November and for men (chi(2)=19.69, df=11, P<0.05) with the highest peak in April. Among women increasing age correlated negatively with the range of monthly observed/expected ratios (r(s)=-0.943, N=6, P<0.01) and with a of maximal monthly observed/expected ratio (r(s)=-0.943, N=6, P<0.01). Among men suicides correlated with admissions for depression (r=0.647, N=12, P<0.05) and mania (r=0.678, N=12, P<0.05). LIMITATIONS: The time of admission to hospital are not identical to onset of affective episode. The study was done retrospectively. No sociocultural or physical environmental data were investigated. CONCLUSION: A hypothesis of an influence of seasons on mood disorders is supported. Younger women seem to be especially vulnerable.

Resource distribution in mental health services: changes in geographic location and use of personnel in Norwegian mental health services 1979-1994.

BACKGROUND: During the last decades, a central aim of Norwegian health policy has been to achieve a more equal geographical distribution of services. Of special interest is the 1980 financial reform. Central government reimbursements for the treatment of in-patients were replaced by a block grant to each county, based on indicators of relative "need". AIMS OF THE STUDY: The aim of this paper is to assess whether the distribution of specialized mental health services did take the course suggested by the proponents of the reform (i.e. a more equal distribution), or the opposite (i.e. a more unequal distribution) as claimed by the opponents. METHODS: Man year per capita ratios were used as indicators for the distribution of mental health services by county. Ratios were estimated for "all personnel", and for MDs and psychologists separately. Man years were assigned to counties by location of services (i.e. in which county the services were produced), and by residence of users (i.e. in which county the services were consumed). Indicators of geographic variation were estimated using the standard deviation (STD) as a measure of absolute variation, and the coefficient of variation (CV) and the Gini index as indicators of relative variation. Indicators were estimated for 1979, 1984, 1989 and 1994, based on data for all specialized adult mental health services in the country. Changes in distributions over the period were tested, using Levene's test of homogeneity. RESULTS: Relative variations in the distribution of personnel by location of services were substantially reduced over the period, the CV being reduced by more than 50% for all groups. Variations in the personnel ratios by residence of users were smaller at the start of the period, and the reductions were also smaller. Still, relative variations were reduced by 20-35, 40 and 60% approximately for "all personnel", MDs and psychologists respectively. In spite of a major increase in the supply of MDs and psychologists, absolute variations in the personnel ratios were in all cases either reduced, or fairly stable. These results give little support to the views expressed by the opponents of the 1980 reform, although the main result seems to have been relocations in the production of services, more than re-distributions in the consumption of services. DISCUSSION: These results can be seen as a result of three aspects of the reform: 1 Distributing government grants to counties in their capacity as users of services rather than producers of services. This shift has primarily facilitated relocations in the production of services. 2 Relocation of services was also expected to produce a more equal distribution in the use of services, since reduced distances would increase accessibility. This, however, was counteracted by increased county control with use of services in other counties. 3 Distribution of grants based on "needs" rather than services produced was expected to produce a more equal distribution in the use of services. This effect seems to have been less than expected, probably because counties with high reimbursements under the old system also provided services to people from other counties. Other policy reforms have, however, contributed to the results. These reforms include increased supply of personnel, de-institutionalization of services, regionalization/sectorization of services, and the establishment of smaller psychiatric units in general hospitals. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: In recent years the 1980 reform has been under attack; partly due to alleged inequalities created by the system. As a result of the critique, government reimbursements for in-patient treatment have been reintroduced for general hospital services. In mental health services, more resources are distributed to specific projects. According to this study, this shift in policy is based on faulty premises and might lead to greater inequalities in the future.

Measuring readmissions: focus on the time factor.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of choosing different time-intervals of observation when using unplanned readmissions as an outcome indicator. DESIGN: A conceptual model was developed based on the risk curve. The model assigned readmissions above a background level as 'related' to the earlier episode of illness. The characteristics of the hazard curve were used to estimate how the rates of related and unrelated readmissions varied with time. SETTING: Patients living in a region of Middle Norway served by eight acute-care hospitals and discharged in the year 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The conditional risk (hazard rate) of having an unplanned readmission. The information gathered allowed inclusion of readmissions to all hospitals in the area, and to make risk corrections for deaths. RESULTS: The identified proportion of readmissions judged as related to the earlier episode of illness was found to be very sensitive to changes in the time interval. With the commonly used interval of 30 days, 0.5 of all related readmissions were identified, while 0.7 of the readmissions included at this time were estimated as related ones ('true positives'). The hazard curve was different for medical and surgical patients, but the corresponding proportions of related and unrelated readmissions were relatively similar. Adjusting for deaths in the observation period did not result in significantly different risk curves. CONCLUSION: When unplanned readmissions are used as an outcome indicator, the measure is susceptible to the choice of time interval. The operative characteristics must be interpreted in the context of where it is intended that the indicator should be used.