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. 2021 Dec 24:12:745247.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.745247. eCollection 2021.

Expert Arguments for Trends of Psychiatric Bed Numbers: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Data

Adrian P Mundt  1   2 , Sabine Delhey Langerfeldt  1 , Enzo Rozas Serri  1   3 , Mathias Siebenförcher  4 , Stefan Priebe  5
Affiliations

Expert Arguments for Trends of Psychiatric Bed Numbers: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Data

Adrian P Mundt et al. Front Psychiatry. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health policies have encouraged removals of psychiatric beds in many countries. It is under debate whether to continue those trends. We conducted a systematic review of expert arguments for trends of psychiatric bed numbers. Methods: We searched seven electronic databases and screened 15,479 papers to identify expert opinions, arguments and recommendations for trends of psychiatric bed numbers, published until December 2020. Data were synthesized using thematic analysis and classified into arguments to maintain or increase numbers and to reduce numbers. Results: One hundred six publications from 25 countries were included. The most common themes arguing for reductions of psychiatric bed numbers were inadequate use of inpatient care, better integration of care and better use of community care. Arguments to maintain or increase bed numbers included high demand of psychiatric beds, high occupancy rates, increasing admission rates, criminalization of mentally ill, lack of community care and inadequately short length of stay. Cost effectiveness and quality of care were used as arguments for increase or decrease. Conclusions: The expert arguments presented here may guide and focus future debate on the required psychiatric bed numbers. The recommendations may help policymakers to define targets for psychiatric bed numbers. Arguments need careful local evaluation, especially when supporting opposite directions of trends in different contexts.

Keywords: consensus; expert recommendation; general hospital psychiatry; inpatient; institutionalization; length of stay; psychiatric hospital beds.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Expert arguments to reduce psychiatric bed numbers, a systematic review of qualitative data.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Expert arguments to maintain or increase psychiatric bed numbers, a systematic review of qualitative data.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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