Thesis (M.Med.(Psychiatry))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, 2014. / Introduction Absconding from psychiatric facilities has socioeconomic implications. The aetiology is multifactorial. Absconding patients are at higher risk of self-harm, violence, non-adherence, relapses, substance use and negative media attention. Identification of potential absconders would assist with risk assessment and prevention. Methods A retrospective record review was conducted of all absconds from a tertiary psychiatric hospital over one year. An abscond rate and a profile were formulated. In addition, trends were identified since the inception of democracy and deinstitutionalization. Results 97 patients absconded 108 times during the study period, 7 having absconded more than once. The absconding rate was 7.83%. The typical absconder is: single, unemployed male, in his early 30’s, known to psychiatric services, diagnosed with schizophrenia and co-morbid substance use. The typical absconder is more likely to be a forensic patient not returning from an official leave of absence. Conclusion
The study defines the profile of the typical absconder. The abscond rate has decreased to half that of a previous study by Siwinska (1993). Mental health care users are being treated in a less restrictive manner and this results in less absconds and a change in the method of absconds. This has implications for clinical practice.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:wits/oai:wiredspace.wits.ac.za:10539/15291 |
| Date | 27 August 2014 |
| Creators | Arbee, Feroza |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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