Background: Previous studies among the general population indicated an association between mental illnesses and different forms of financial difficulties, such as indebtedness.
Objective: Investigation of the financial burden and associated factors among inpatients and day clinic patients in psychiatric care.
Material and methods: A total of 488 patients in psychiatric care in the catchment area of the Psychiatric University Hospital Charité at St. Hedwig Hospital participated in a cross-sectional patient survey carried out with a structured interview regarding financial burden, sociodemographic and clinical variables.
Results: Of the participants 269 (55.1%) showed outstanding debts, loans or unpaid bills. Among the participants who were willing to give information about the amount of debts, the majority (47.0%) had debts between 1000 € and 9999 € and 36.3% between 10,000 € and 99,999 €. In the binary regression models, younger age and substance use disorders were factors significantly associated with outstanding debts. Of the participants 22.3% had outstanding debts >10,000 € and were depending on social welfare, so that indebtedness could be assumed.
Conclusion: Financial burdens and outstanding debts among patients in psychiatric care should be inquired about and considered more intensively in practice. Suitable models of support need to be developed and evaluated.
Background Previous studies of the general population indicate an association between mental illness and various forms of financial difficulties such as debt.
Aim of the work: Investigation of the financial burden and associated factors in patients in (partly) inpatient psychiatric treatment.
Material and methods: A total of 488 participants in a cross-sectional patient survey using a structured interview on sociodemographic and clinical variables in (semi-)inpatient psychiatric treatment in the psychiatric university clinic of the Charité in St. Hedwig, responsible for a specific care area in Berlin, provided information to financial burdens.
Results: A total of 269 (55.1%) participants had debts, loans or open bills. Among the participants who provided information on the amount of credit or debt (n = 215), the majority (47.0%) had debts or credits of between €1,000 and €9,999, followed by 36.3% Debts/credits between €10,000 and €99,999. In the regression models for the presence of debt, younger age and the presence of substance dependence proved to be significantly associated factors. 22.3% of those questioned had debts of more than €10,000 and lived on social benefits, so that over-indebtedness could be assumed.
Discussion: Financial burdens and existing debts in the psychiatric field should be asked about and taken into account more in practice. Appropriate forms of support should be developed and evaluated.
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