Sleep problems, psychiatric hospitalization, and emergency department use among psychiatric patients with Medicaid.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study examined the prevalence of sleep problems and their association with the use of inpatient and emergency department services by Medicaid recipients with serious mental illness.

Methods

The sample consisted of 1,560 psychiatric patients with Medicaid coverage who were identified in a ten-state random survey of psychiatrists. Sleep problems were assessed by clinician ratings.

Results

Over 75% of the patients experienced a sleep problem, and approximately 50% of these patients had problems that were moderate to severe. Greater sleep problem severity was associated with an increased risk of psychiatric hospitalization and emergency department visits for mental health reasons.

Conclusions

Sleep problems were highly prevalent among Medicaid patien

SUBMITTER: Kaufmann CN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3170089 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature