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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Schizophrenia | Research article

Utilization of somatic healthcare in Croatian patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, major depression, PTSD and the general population

Authors: Vjekoslav Jeleč, Žarko Bajić, Ivona Šimunović Filipčić, Ivana Portolan Pajić, Mirela Šentija Knežević, Ivan Miloloža, Delfa Radić-Krišto, Tomislav Benjak, Nenad Jakšić, Marina Šagud, Wei Wang, Igor Filipčić

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Utilization of somatic healthcare services is highly predictive of the development of chronic physical illnesses and increased mortality risks. The objective of this study was to assess the differences in healthcare utilization among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the general population in Croatia.

Methods

We enrolled 566 Croatian participants from the general population, 282 with SSD, 178 with MDD, and 86 with PTSD. The primary outcome was a self-reported specialist consultation for non-psychiatric (e.g., somatic) causes within the previous 12 months.

Results

Although SSD patients with chronic physical illnesses were significantly more often hospitalized for physical illness than the general population, the proportion of patients who had a specialist consultation were equal in SSD and the general population. MDD and PTSD patients had significantly higher adjusted odds for specialist consultation than the general population and SSD patients (MDD compared to SSD: OR = 2.14; 95% CI 1.27–3.59; PTSD compared to SSD: OR = 2.03; 95% CI 1.00–4.10).

Conclusions

SSD patients’ utilization of somatic healthcare is equal to the general population, despite their increased healthcare needs. However, their utilization is lower than in MDD and PTSD patients and, therefore, probably not adequate.

Trial registration

The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02773108) on May 16, 2016.
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Metadata
Title
Utilization of somatic healthcare in Croatian patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, major depression, PTSD and the general population
Authors
Vjekoslav Jeleč
Žarko Bajić
Ivona Šimunović Filipčić
Ivana Portolan Pajić
Mirela Šentija Knežević
Ivan Miloloža
Delfa Radić-Krišto
Tomislav Benjak
Nenad Jakšić
Marina Šagud
Wei Wang
Igor Filipčić
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2190-8

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