Anxiety levels of hospitalized psychiatric patients throughout total hospitalization

The purpose of the study was to determine the trend of anxiety levels of psychiatric patients throughout a short-term hospitalization. The sample included patients hospitalized on the 27 bed psychiatric unit at the University Hospital in Salt Lake City. The average hospitalisation was 10 days. Fifteen patients were randomly selected over a two month period. There were no limitations as to age, sex, diagnosis, previous hospitalisations or socioeconomic status. Patients who were too disturbed to complete the test forms were not included in the study. The IPAT-8-Farallel Form Anxiety Battery was administered at daily intervals. Form A was given within 24- hours after admission. Forms B through G were administered, one per day, over the next 6 days. Form H was withheld until the patient had been informed of¦ his discharge plans. On the average, 3 days elapsed between the administration of forms G and the final form, Form H. A Friedman Analysis of Variance indicated that the changes in anxiety levels over time approached statistical significance. A Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Test showed that some mean scores fluctuated significantly from the initial mean anxiety level. The results supported the observation that anxiety levels tend to be high at admission and upon notification of discharge. The results also identified a third peak at approximately the fifth day of ho spitalisation. Implications for nursing care were discussed. The trends in anxiety fluctuation inay provide a basis for prediction of periods of particular stress for patients that should have implications for nursing care. Patterns of anxiety fluctuations during a short' term hospitalization period provide areas for further research, some of which were discussed in the report.