Predicting time to emergency department re-visits and inpatient hospitalization among adolescents who visited an emergency department for psychotic symptoms: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND Adolescents experiencing psychosis may enter the mental health system by a pathway to care that includes or is initiated at the emergency department (ED). However, a better understanding of the pathway to care involving EDs is required to ensure these patients receive the care they require. This study explores physician-based care factors associated with adolescent ED re-visits and inpatient hospitalization following an index ED visit for psychotic symptoms. METHODS Using administrative data from Alberta, Canada, we identified a cohort of adolescents aged 13-17 years who were discharged after an ED visit for psychotic symptoms between April 1, 2002 and September 29, 2010. Multivariable models estimated times to ED re-visit and inpatient hospitalization for mental health care in a 90-day period after ED discharge. RESULTS The cohort was comprised of 208 adolescents. Reduced times to ED re-visit and inpatient hospitalization were associated with: 1) multiple physician visits after discharge (ED re-visit: hazard ratio [HR] 5.93, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 2.09-16.82; inpatient hospitalization: HR 9.43, 95 % CI 1.24-72.00), and 2) post-ED physician care provided in a hospital-based outpatient clinic (ED re-visit: HR 3.07, 95 % CI 1.77-5.29; inpatient hospitalization: HR 3.48, 95 % CI 1.54-7.88). A follow-up visit to a pediatrician, compared to other physician specialties, was associated with earlier inpatient hospitalization (HR 4.45, 95 % CI 1.43-13.87). There was a significant interaction between sex and First Nations status in both models. Females with First Nations status re-visited the ED sooner (HR 3.19; 95 % CI 1.41-7.22) and were hospitalized sooner (HR 4.18; 95 % CI 1.24-14.06). CONCLUSIONS This study identifies predictors of time to care for adolescents with psychotic symptoms that are worthy of additional investigation. To ensure the pathway to care for these adolescents reduces the duration of untreated problems, health care aspects that require urgent investigation include the type assessments and clinical decisions made during post-ED physician visits.