Who Applies to Regional Review Boards and What are the Outcomes?

Abstract

Objective: To determine the outcomes for patients following applications to regional review boards at an Ontario provincial psychiatric hospital for 1992 through 1994. Method: A retrospective casenote study examined frequency of readmission, time to next admission, status upon readmission, and episodes of dangerous behaviour perpetrated in the community for patients applying to review boards. Results: Over 3 years, 116 hearings took place to review various certificates. Only 57% of applications reached a hearing. Of those, 69% were confirmed and 31% rescinded. A small group of patients made multiple applications to the review board. Median time to next admission for patients who had certificates of involuntary admission rescinded by the review board was 14 days, compared with 53 days for those who remained in hospital until the time of planned discharge. Conclusion: Review boards consume considerable resources, serve only a small proportion of patients, and contribute to the “revolving door” phenomenon.