Is severity of family burden a correlate of length of stay?

It has been difficult to identify relevant correlates of inpatient psychiatric length of stay (LOS), but few have examined family burden as a potential factor. The present study investigated the association of several dimensions of family burden with LOS net of other factors. Dimensions of burden experienced by primary caregivers were evaluated in a sample of 602 psychiatric inpatients in a large hospital in Guangzhou, China within 1 week of admission. Factor analysis reduced the burden data to five factors. Bivariate association and multiple linear regression analyzes were used to investigate burden and other factors associated with LOS (average LOS=58.8 days, SD=44.3). Multiple regression analysis showed that in addition to having health insurance coverage, being diagnosed with schizophrenia, being unmarried, and not being employed; being perceived by family members as showing more violent behavior and causing higher levels of caregiver distress were independently associated with longer LOS.