<p>
	Depression is the most common reason why patients are admitted to psychiatric hospitals, according to a new report.</p>
<p>
	The illness accounted for nearly one in three patients admitted to hospital last year. The second most common cause was schizophrenia, followed by mania, where the patient suffers from a heightened state of euphoria and lack of sleep.</p>
<p>
	Alcoholic disorders accounted for 8pc of all admissions with one in 10 of first-time patients having an addiction to drink of all, the Health Research Board revealed.</p>
<p>
	The figures show that admissions to Irish psychiatric units and hospitals increased from 18,173 in 2012 to 18,457 in 2013, an rise of 284 .The report found that women outnumbered men,making up 51pc of patients.</p>
<p>
	People aged he 55-64 year age group had the highest rate of admission. But the rate of first-time patients was highest among the 18-19 year age group .</p>
<p>
	Over half of those with mental illness were single and, in line with previous trends, the unskilled occupational group had the highest rate of all admissions. Most were admitted to the psychiatric units of public hospitals while one in four were in private facilities.</p>
<p>
	The report found that more than one in 10 were admitted against their will. The rate of involuntary admission increased from 41.9 per 100,000 in 2012 to 44.4 in 2013.</p>
<p>
	The report noted 144 deaths in Irish psychiatric units and hospitals and three quarters of those who died were aged 65 or over, with men accounting for more than women. This is an increase in the number of discharges from 17,986 in 2012 but a decrease in the number of deaths from 153.</p>
<p>
	Nearly one in three only spent a week in hospital and the majority were discharged within three months.</p>
<p>
	There were 415 admissions to all types of hospital of children under 18, a reduction of 23 since 2012 .</p>
<p>
	Just three quarters of these were placed in special child and adolescent units and one in five ended up in units in public hospitals. Of these youngsters 317 were admitted for the first time.</p>
<p>
	Girls accounted for 64pc of these young people. Again the most common illness was depression, followed by schizophrenia. Almost 12pc had a diagnosis of an eating disorder and 9pc suffered from neuroses which can involve obsessional thoughts and compulsive behaviour. Around 6pc were students.</p>
<p>
	Nearly nine in 10 of the patients were classified as &quot;white Irish&quot;, 5pc were from backgrounds such as the travelling community and Roma. Around 2pc were distributed amongst various other ethnic groups.</p>
<p>
	Admission rates were highest for counties Sligo, Roscommon, Kerry and Laois .</p>
<p>
	Monaghan had the lowest rate of all admissions.</p>
<p>
	Westmeath had the highest rate of first admissions, followed by Dublin,Laois, and Kerry. Again Monaghan had the lowest rate of admissions.</p>
<p>
	The average age at admission was 45 years. The youngest was 14 years and the oldest was 97.</p>
<p>
	The authors of the report Antoinette Daly and Dr Dermot Walsh said that over 10 years there has been a 17pc decline in admissions to psychiatric hospitals.</p>
<p>
	Despite a decline in involuntary admissions during some of the 10-year period from 2004-2013, the proportion of patients detained against their will in 2013 was at the same level as 2004, prior to the modernising of legislation with the Mental Health Act 2001.</p>
<p>
	Admission numbers reached a peak of 29,392 in 1986.</p>
<p>
	Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch said an additional &euro;35m is being ring-fenced for mental health in 2015. But mental health groups have warned that the service remains under-funded, with potential consequences for patients.</p>
<p>
	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/depression-is-cause-of-one-in-three-psychiatric-admissions-30701376.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/depression-is-cause-of-one-in-three-psychiatric-admissions-30701376.html</a></p>
