Rapid psychiatric readmission in youth: A five-year retrospective Cohort Study

•Roughly one in five youth were readmitted over the five-year observation period.•8.8% of youth were rapidly readmitted within 30 days of discharge.•The median time to readmission was 88 days following discharge.•Personality disorder concerns were associated with readmission.•Self-harm concerns were associated with lower odds of rapid readmission. This study describes predictors of psychiatric readmission among youth, including rapid readmission within 30 days of discharge. A retrospective chart review identified demographic features, diagnoses, and reasons for initial admission among 1324 youth admitted to the child and adolescent psychiatric emergency unit at a Canadian children's hospital. 22% of youth had at least one readmission and 8.8% had at least one rapid readmission during the five-year period. Personality disorder (HR=1.64, 95% CI=1.07, 2.52) and self-harm concerns (HR=0.65, 95% CI=0.48, 0.89) predicted odds of readmission Reducing readmission is an important goal, particularly for youth with personality concerns.