Predictors of psychiatric readmission within 12 months following discharge from inpatient units in Alberta, Canada

Psychiatric readmissions remain a significant challenge for mental health systems and may reflect gaps in continuity of care and support. This study examined predictors of psychiatric readmission within 12 months of discharge from an acute inpatient admission, with particular attention to patient satisfaction with care. Data from 1,070 psychiatric service users were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Variables included sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, prior inpatient admission, and satisfaction with care received during the indexed admission. Prior inpatient admission within the previous 12 months was the strongest predictor of readmission (OR = 2.00, 95% CI [1.45-2.76], p < .001). Older age (>40 years) and higher educational attainment were associated with lower readmission risk, whereas younger age and lower educational attainment were associated with increased risk. Employment and housing status were also significant predictors. In contrast, patient satisfaction with inpatient care was not associated with readmission, nor were gender, ethnicity, relationship status, resilience, well-being, depression, anxiety, or study cluster. These findings suggest that psychiatric readmission is driven primarily by recent hospitalization history and sociodemographic factors rather than patient satisfaction, highlighting the importance of targeted discharge planning and psychosocial support to reduce future hospitalizations.