Determinants of Long-Term Psychiatric Hospital Admission in Nigeria: A Record Review at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu

Prolonged psychiatric hospitalization raises critical questions about institutional capacity, community reintegration, and therapeutic effectiveness in Nigerian neuropsychiatric hospitals. This study examines the determinants of long-term admission among patients at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, South East Nigeria. A retrospective record review design will extract data from the case files of 200 patients who have been hospitalized continuously for six months or more over the period 2020 to 2024. Variables including primary psychiatric diagnosis, comorbidities, number of previous admissions, medication history, caregiver contact, socioeconomic status, and legal status will be documented. Descriptive statistics and Cox regression analysis will identify factors associated with prolonged stay. Existing evidence from Nigerian neuropsychiatric hospitals suggests that social factors, including abandonment by family and inadequate community support, are as important as clinical factors in prolonging admissions. This study will generate evidence to support the redesign of discharge planning protocols, community follow-up systems, and family engagement strategies at Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, and inform national policy on deinstitutionalization. Keywords: long-term admission, psychiatric hospital, determinants, Enugu, deinstitutionalization