Effects of Age and Anxiety on Short-Term Rehospitalization Rates in Japanese Patients with Schizophrenia

This retrospective observational study investigated the relationship between rehospitalization rates and use of antipsychotic agents. The medical records of 92 Japanese patients with acute stage schizophrenia who were admitted to Juntendo Koshigaya Hospital or Juntendo University Hospital between April 2012 and March 2014 were reviewed retrospectively. Univariate analysis indicated no significant differences in the types of antipsychotics administered to patients who were, versus those who were not, rehospitalized; however, the former group were significantly older (47.8 +/- 12.4 years vs 40.2 +/- 12.9 years, respectively, P = .014) and had longer durations of illness. The total score of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale was increased significantly in those who were rehospitalized. However, only the score for the item "anxiety" was significantly greater at the time of rehospitalization compared with that recorded at last discharge (4.00 +/- 1.45 vs 2.00 +/- 0.72, respectively, P < .001). Age and anxiety may be associated with rehospitalization.