Admissions to psychiatric hospitals and inpatient units fell in 2003, according to a report published today by the Health Research Board.
The Activities of Irish Psychiatric Services 2003report shows that total admissions fell from 23,677 in 2002 to 23,031 in 2003. The fall in admissions last year reflects an ongoing trend from a peak of 29,392 in 1986.
The report shows hospitalisation rates were highest in the South Eastern Health Board, at 209.8 per 100,000, compared to 26.1 per 100,000 in the South Western Area Health Board.
Most people admitted to psychiatric hospitals and inpatient units last year were in the 45 to 54 year old age group. Three main diagnoses accounted for two thirds of all admissions - depression (33 per cent), schizophrenia (18 per cent) and alcoholism (16 per cent).
Speaking at the launch of the report, Dr Dermot Walsh, Principal Investigator at the Health Research Board, said: "Year on year changes in admission statistics may not be stark, but they reflect longer-term trends."
"One example of this is the fall in admissions, which indicates an increased focus on community care. Another is, that for the first time, admissions to general hospital psychiatric units exceeded admissions to psychiatric hospitals, indicating increased provision of general hospital units and the phasing out of psychiatric hospitals," he added.
A full copy of the report can be accessed at www.hrb.ie/publications.