Health Research Board

Meanwhile, the overall number of admissions, both new and returning patients, fell marginally, from 20,769 in 2007 to 20,752 in 2008. The figures are published today in the Health Research Board annual report Activities of Irish Psychiatric Units and Hospitals 2008.

According to Antoinette Daly, lead author of the report, the rise in first admissions could be the result of six newly approved centres which commenced submitting data returns in 2008.

The core findings of the report are;

• There was an equal proportion of male and female admissions.
• The 45–54 year age group were most likely to be admitted, with a rate of 768.5 per 100,000 population.
• The 20–24 year age group had the highest rate of first admissions, at 212.9 per 100,000 population.
• Over half (54.5%) of all admissions were for single people.
• In keeping with the pattern of previous years the unskilled occupational group had the highest rate of all (975.6 per 100,000) and first admissions (209.5 per 100,000).

In terms of diagnosis;

• Depressive disorders, schizophrenia and alcoholic disorders accounted for 61% of all admissions.
• Depressive disorders accounted for almost one in three (30%) of all admissions.
• Schizophrenia accounted for almost one in five (19%) admissions.
• Alcoholic disorders accounted for one in eight admissions (12%).

Discharges and deaths

• There were 20,603 discharges from and 161 deaths in psychiatric units and hospitals in 2008.
• Over half (53%) of all deaths were male and 57% were aged 75 years and over.
• The average length of stay for all discharges (excluding those with a length of stay of one year or more) was 25.0 days (median 13.0 days).

Young people (under 18 years of age)

• There was a total of 406 admissions for people under 18 in 2008, an increase in admissions for under 18s from 2007 (364).
• Seventy-two percent (292) of admissions were first admissions, an increase in the number and proportion of first admissions from 2007 (249; 68%).
• Over half of all (58%) and first (57%) admissions for under 18s were female.
• Eighty-four per cent of all admissions were aged 15–17 years old.
• 16% were aged between 6 and 14 years of ageDepressive disorders accounted for almost one in four (26%) of all admissions for under 18s.
• Eating disorders accounted for 18% of admissions.
• Neurosis accounted for 15% of admissions and schizophrenia accounted for 9%.
• Females accounted for 61% of all admissions with depressive disorders, 58% of all admissions with neurosis and 89% of admissions with eating disorders; males accounted for 60% of all admissions with schizophrenia.
• Almost two-thirds (65%) of all admissions for under 18s in 2008 were to adult psychiatric units or hospitals.

Activities of Irish Psychiatric Units and Hospitals 2008 can be downloaded directly below or from the Publications section of the website.