Thompson J W, Belcher J R, DeForge B R, Myers C P, Rosenstein M J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201.
Hosp Community Psychiatry. 1993 Mar;44(3):231-5. doi: 10.1176/ps.44.3.231.
Characteristics of schizophrenic patients admitted to state hospitals between 1970 and 1986 were studied to examine changes in the demographic profile of the patient population and in principal sources of payment for hospitalization over the study period.
Information on patients' demographic characteristics and principal payment sources was obtained from a nationally representative data base compiled about every five years by the National Institute of Mental Health.
Among schizophrenic patients admitted between 1970 and 1986, the proportion of African-American males increased. By 1986 patients were less likely to pay for care through private insurance or their own resources. They were more likely to receive Medicare and to lack medical insurance. Medicare use increased largely among white patients, and medical indigency largely among African-American patients.
Changes in the characteristics of schizophrenic patients admitted to state hospitals between 1970 and 1986 may be related to changes in nosology, in the prevalence of schizophrenia, and in the types of patients likely to be admitted to state hospitals. The increase in the number of medically indigent patients accentuates the need for more adequate finding of state hospitals.
研究1970年至1986年间入住州立医院的精神分裂症患者的特征，以考察研究期间患者群体人口统计学特征的变化以及住院治疗主要支付来源的变化。
关于患者人口统计学特征和主要支付来源的信息取自美国国立精神卫生研究所每五年汇编一次的具有全国代表性的数据库。
在1970年至1986年间入院的精神分裂症患者中，非裔美国男性的比例有所增加。到1986年，患者通过私人保险或自身资源支付医疗费用的可能性降低。他们更有可能接受医疗保险且缺乏医疗保险。医疗保险的使用在白人患者中大幅增加，而医疗贫困在非裔美国患者中大幅增加。
1970年至1986年间入住州立医院的精神分裂症患者特征的变化可能与疾病分类学的变化、精神分裂症的患病率以及可能入住州立医院的患者类型的变化有关。医疗贫困患者数量的增加凸显了为州立医院提供更充足资金的必要性。
