Time of the year and absconding from a psychiatric hospital in Trinidad

Abstract

Personal characteristics of patients and environmental factors at psychiatric hospitals have been identified as predictors of absconding. This study seeks to establish a relationship between time of the year and absconding. All characteristics of absconders were analysed over a two-year period using hospital records (N= 104). Public holidays and lunar phases were obtained through almanacs for each year; and school vacation period was determined by reference to a school academic calendar. Friday was the most popular day of the week for absconding, males tend to escape more on the weekends compared to females, females tend to escape more during the wet season, and Christmas was the most popular holiday season for absconding to take place. The full moon phase had the largest percentage of absconding when compared to other phases. Recommendations are that the system of patient care should be client driven at all times and greater supervision of patients is needed on weekends, vacation periods and during the full moon phase.

Keywords: Absconding; psychiatric hospital.