What patients' characteristics predict outcome?

The study 'Outcomes of Involuntary Hospital Admission in England' was linked to EUNOMIA and presents the largest ever national study on outcomes and predictors for outcomes of involuntary hospital admission. Patients were assessed within the first week after admission, after four weeks, three months and twelve months. More than 800 patients were interviewed after admission. Baseline and outcome data was obtained also for those patients who for various reasons did not participate in interviews. This paper summarises what patient characteristics predict outcome in terms of clinical improvement, readmissions and patients' retrospective assessment as to whether the admission was justified and the treatment beneficial. The findings show that studies based on participants only can lead to biased findings.