[Effects of implementation of psychiatric out-patient clinics ("institutsambulanzen") on hospital admissions]

Abstract

Objective: In the German federal state Baden-Wuerttemberg psychiatric out-patient clinics ("Institutsambulanzen") have been implemented since 2002, later than elsewhere. The effects of these new out-patient services on the use of in-patient services should be examined in a defined catchment area.

Method: Data on the use of in-patient services 2002 - 2011 was recorded from psychiatric hospitals and day hospitals in a catchment area of 862 000 inhabitants as well as data from the corresponding out-patient clinics.

Results: While the number of patients in the out-patient clinics increased from 1986 in 2002 to 7925 in 2011, the number of hospitalised patients increased only moderately, from 4452 in 2002 to 4930 in 2011. An increasing percentage of patients in the out-patients clinic did not use in-patient services in the respective year. This concerned particularly patients with adjustment and personality disorders, who do not find other appropriate psychotherapeutic care as out-patients.

Conclusions: The implementation of out-patient clinics had no significant effect on the number of hospitalisations and occupied beds.