Abstract / Summary
Background and objectives Involuntary psychiatric admission is common among patients with psychotic disorders, but demographic factors associated with its use remain incompletely understood. Previous findings regarding sex have been inconsistent. We examined whether the association between sex and involuntary admission varies according to age. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of 254 patients with psychotic disorders admitted to an acute psychiatric inpatient unit between February 2018 and May 2023. Multivariable logistic regression examined sex, age, and their interaction in relation to involuntary admission. Results Overall, 179 patients (70.5%) were admitted involuntarily. Men and women had similar crude rates of involuntary admission. Female sex (OR = 4.876; 95% CI: 1.147–20.722; p = 0.032) and the female sex-by-age interaction (OR = 0.969; 95% CI: 0.938–0.999; p = 0.046) were statistically significant in the model. Predicted probabilities remained relatively stable across age in men but declined with increasing age in women, with younger women showing the highest probability of involuntary admission. Conclusion Age modifies the association between sex and involuntary admission in psychotic disorders, with younger women showing the highest probability of involuntary admission. These findings highlight the importance of considering sex-by-age interactions and may inform more individualized clinical assessment and service planning.