Self-Reported Perception of Voluntary Psychiatric Hospitalization and Underlying Needs: A Cross-Sectional Study of Patients on a Psychiatric Unit in a Safety Net Hospital.

Unmet social needs are a significant reason for increased psychiatric readmission rates. However, there is a paucity of literature to suggest patients contribute to this increased rate by reporting more severe symptoms. Our study assessed voluntarily hospitalized psychiatric patients' perceptions of underlying needs within a safety net hospital. In a cross-sectional anonymous survey, 58 of 100 voluntarily hospitalized English-speaking psychiatric patients reported they would not need hospitalization if they had stable housing. Forty-one reported similarly if they had disability income. Thirty-one percent of participants indicated that they had reported more severe symptoms in the past to gain psychiatric admission, and 26% indicated they reported more severe psychiatric symptoms at the time of the survey. Of those reporting more severe symptoms, 73% reported they needed help with housing, and 57% needed help with disability benefits. This preliminary work represents a starting point to better understand patient needs and provide appropriate levels of care.