Predicting falls among psychiatric inpatients: a case-control study at a state psychiatric facility. 2009

Irene Estrin, and Raymond Goetz, and David J Hellerstein, and Amy Bennett-Staub, and Gretchen Seirmarco
Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Dr., New York, NY 10032, USA. estrini@pi.cpmc.columbia.edu

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the study was to add to the research on risk of falling in an understudied population of psychiatric inpatients in an acute setting. METHODS Five years of fall data in an inpatient psychiatric facility, where falls were frequent but benign, were examined for patient and treatment characteristics that might be associated with falls. This was a retrospective analysis, which matched 1:1 the medical records of fallers and nonfallers on primary psychiatric diagnoses. The total sample consisted of 148 patients. Statistical analysis was conducted on patient demographic characteristics, summed medical history items reported, summed physical complaints on the day of the fall, the number and types of medications taken within a 24-hour period of the fall, and the patient's vital signs. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the most salient associations with faller status. RESULTS Univariate analyses revealed that fallers were prescribed significantly more medications and complained of more physical symptoms on the day of their fall. Fallers were more likely to have a current acute medical condition and to be currently prescribed clonazepam or antihypertensive medication. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that current physical complaints and current clonazepam treatment had significant associations with faller status. CONCLUSIONS Risk factors identified in this study should be assessed in replication studies. Psychiatric clinicians can use such risk factors to create evidence-based fall prevention programs.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D005260 Female Females
D005544 Forecasting The prediction or projection of the nature of future problems or existing conditions based upon the extrapolation or interpretation of existing scientific data or by the application of scientific methodology. Futurology,Projections and Predictions,Future,Predictions and Projections
D006778 Hospitals, Psychiatric Special hospitals which provide care to the mentally ill patient. Mental Hospitals,Hospitals, Mental,Mental Institutions,Psychiatric Hospitals,Hospital, Mental,Hospital, Psychiatric,Institution, Mental,Institutions, Mental,Mental Hospital,Mental Institution,Psychiatric Hospital
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000058 Accidental Falls Falls due to slipping or tripping which may result in injury. Falls, Accidental,Falling,Falls,Slip and Fall,Accidental Fall,Fall and Slip,Fall, Accidental
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly

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