In recent years efforts of identification of predictors of schizophrenia outcome have been made. Less extensive has been the study of patients' characteristics associated with duration of hospitalization due to acute exacerbation of schizophrenia. Positive and negative symptoms were found both to predict duration of hospitalization whereas the data for other sociodemographic and clinical characteristics are inadequate.

To identify patients' clinical and sociodemographic characteristics associated with duration of hospitalization in acute exacerbation of schizophrenia.

137 inpatients (98 male, 39 female) were included in the study. The association of age, sex, nationality, suicidality, education, marital status, violence and BPRS scores with the length of hospitalization was studied.

The mean age of the participants was 42.1 years ± 12.4 SD and the mean duration of hospitalization was 35 days ± 19.6 SD. No statistically significant association between any factors was found apart from BPRS score. Further analysis for correlation showed positive linear correlation between BPRS score and length of hospitalization (Pearson r = 0.232, p < 0.05).

The severity of symptoms as depicted in BPRS scores is associated with the duration of hospitalization in acute exacerbation of schizophrenia and may serve as predictor of outcome and cost in inpatient populations.