거역퇴원환자의 인구학적 특성에 관한 연구

The Study on the Demographic Findings of the Patients Discharged Against Medical Advice

The purpose of this study is to evaluate some sociocultural factors of inpatients(n= 150) who have been discharged “against medical advice” from the psychiatric closed ward at Seoul National University Hospital from 1980 to 1990. In p atien ts(n = 2270) discharged “by medical advice” during the same period were compared as the control group. The results were the followings ; 1) There was no significant difference between the two groups in age, sex, month of admission, month of discharge and residence. 2) There were significant differences between the two groups in outcome of treatm ent, prognosis, marital status and duration of hospitalization. 3) The role of therapist and the therapeutic environment as well as the economic problem should be considered as the important factors for the discharge against medical advice.