This paper reports hospital psychiatric service utilisation over a 5-year period among 924 patients admitted (index admission) in Auckland during 2000.1 In the 5-year followup, 38.5% of the cohort had no readmissions anywhere in New Zealand, 41.0% were readmitted within 12 months and 61.4% were readmitted within 5 years of index discharge. Only 5.6% experienced an admission every year for the 5 years’ post index admission. Readmission was least likely for those with an index discharge diagnosis of depression. Readmission was more likely among those with a history of admissions prior to index admission or who had Māori ethnicity. Those who were younger, had a diagnosis of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder or previous admissions tended to have longer total length of stay over the 5-year study period. 1. Wheeler A et al. Admissions to acute psychiatric inpatient services in Auckland, New Zealand: a demographic and diagnostic review. NZ Med J. 2005;118(1226):9.
