| Summary: | Introduction: The number of people with psychological problems in the world has reached 1.5 billion in 1996, but only one percent of them have received treatment (1Oth International Psychopathology Conference). Schizophrenia is a difficult disease that many choose to conceal. Relapse and frequent readmissions among schizophrenic patients are common and various risk factors have been associated with them. These further enhance the existing societal stigma which causes pain to the patients, their family and friends. Objective: To identify the risk factors of readmission in less than 6 months from the previous admission among schizophrenic patients in Hospital Kota Bharu. Methodology: A total of 120 outpatients and 120 inpatients who fulfilled DSM IV criteria for schizophrenia from Hospital Kota Bharu between 1st October 2002 until 31st March 2003 were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire ·includes questions on patients' sociodemographic data, compliance, insight, family support and life events.Results: Using multiple logistic regression, it was shown that young age ( OR: 0.94, p: 0. 004 ), number of previous admission (OR: 1.163, p: 0.001 ), good compliance ( OR: 0.046, p: 0.001 ), poor insight ( OR: 7 .32, p: 0.001 ), partial insight ( OR: 3.08, p: 0.023), importance of follow up (OR: 2.94, p: 0.043) and family remind follow up ( OR: 0.17, p: 0.001) were significant risk factors of repeated admissions. Other variables such as marital status, income, education, distance and life events showed no significant associations. Conclusions. Age, number of previous hospitalization, poor compliance, poor insight and poor family support were important factors in determining repeated admissions among schizophrenic patients. In the management of these patients, good family supports need to be emphasized.
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