Readmission rates for adjustment disorders: comparison with other mood disorders

Background: The diagnostic category of adjustment disorders continues to receive little attention in the research literature despite its estimated incidence of 5–21% in psychiatric consultation services for adults and 7.1% in inpatient admissions. Methods: Ten years of readmission data were reviewed for six diagnostic categories: adjustment disorders, major depressive disorder (single episode and recurrent), dysthymia, any anxiety disorder and depression NOS. Cox regression analysis was used. Results: Admission diagnosis was a significant predictor of readmission, with adjustment disorders resulting in significantly fewer readmissions than the group as a whole, and major depression recurrent resulting in significantly more readmissions. Limitations: Structured interviews were not used for the establishment of admission diagnoses. Conclusions: Readmission rates in this sample support the construct validity of the adjustment disorders category. The category includes a significant minority of patients admitted to psychiatric hospitalization.