Middle-aged trauma patients with preexisting psychological illness have longer hospital stays

Posted on March 14, 2016

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The researchers from the University of Florida found that adults ages 40-64 years with preexisting psychological illness stayed in the hospital two days longer on average than middle-aged patients with no history of psychological illness. Additionally, only half of these middle-aged patients with preexisting psychological illness went directly home after discharge.

One explanation may be that middle-aged adults may have more challenges than their counterparts managing depression due to high work and family demands, said the study's lead author, Terrie Vasilopoulos, Ph.D., an assistant professor of anesthesiology and of orthopaedics and rehabilitation in the UF College of Medicine.

"Alternatively, other research has shown that middle-aged adults are less like to receive adequate mental health treatment," she said. "Perhaps their longer hospital stays and rehabilitation time is a sign that they actually need more care and are finally getting it."

Future work is needed to improve early detection of psychological illness after hospitalization and to develop effective therapies related to psychosocial aspects of injury and recovery, Vasilopoulos said.


Category(s):Anxiety, Depression, Health / Illness / Medical Issues

Source material from University of Florida