Treating Opioid Use Disorder on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit: A Novel Buprenorphine Consultation Service
<b>Background:</b> Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has claimed the lives of many Americans, with rates of overdose steadily rising over the past decade. Despite having highly effective medications to treat this condition, many providers still hesitate to prescribe them. Psychiatric inpatient f...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Pharmacoepidemiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/4/2/11 |
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| author | Sean T. Lynch Victor Gordillo Ashley Sacks Emily Groenendaal Lidia Klepacz Eldene Towey Stephen J. Ferrando |
| author_facet | Sean T. Lynch Victor Gordillo Ashley Sacks Emily Groenendaal Lidia Klepacz Eldene Towey Stephen J. Ferrando |
| author_sort | Sean T. Lynch |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has claimed the lives of many Americans, with rates of overdose steadily rising over the past decade. Despite having highly effective medications to treat this condition, many providers still hesitate to prescribe them. Psychiatric inpatient facilities have a unique opportunity to engage patients with co-occurring disorders in the treatment of OUD; however, significant barriers exist. This study describes a novel OUD–buprenorphine (BUP) consultation service that provides such care to hospitalized psychiatric patients. <b>Methods</b>: This IRB-approved retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 123 hospitalized psychiatric patients who received consultations from the BUP consultation service. Descriptive and comparative statistics were performed. <b>Results</b>: The sample was predominantly male, with significant unemployment and housing instability. Patients were hospitalized for depressive, bipolar, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Over 90% of patients were discharged on buprenorphine, with over 50% being connected to specialized substance use services. No increase in the length of stay was found, and no difference in outcomes was observed based on diagnosis or BUP discharge status. <b>Discussion/Conclusions</b>: This novel service was effective in providing OUD treatment to patients with complex co-occurring psychiatric disorders without significantly increasing their length of stay. Despite acute exacerbations in psychiatric illness, patients were able to engage in discussions regarding BUP. While the study was limited in scope, it underscores the feasibility of integrating OUD treatment in the acute psychiatric inpatient setting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1beff43b7cc842e4a0e17c5f3fa4f584 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2813-0618 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmacoepidemiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-1beff43b7cc842e4a0e17c5f3fa4f5842025-08-20T03:16:35ZengMDPI AGPharmacoepidemiology2813-06182025-05-01421110.3390/pharma4020011Treating Opioid Use Disorder on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit: A Novel Buprenorphine Consultation ServiceSean T. Lynch0Victor Gordillo1Ashley Sacks2Emily Groenendaal3Lidia Klepacz4Eldene Towey5Stephen J. Ferrando6Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USADepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA<b>Background:</b> Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) has claimed the lives of many Americans, with rates of overdose steadily rising over the past decade. Despite having highly effective medications to treat this condition, many providers still hesitate to prescribe them. Psychiatric inpatient facilities have a unique opportunity to engage patients with co-occurring disorders in the treatment of OUD; however, significant barriers exist. This study describes a novel OUD–buprenorphine (BUP) consultation service that provides such care to hospitalized psychiatric patients. <b>Methods</b>: This IRB-approved retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 123 hospitalized psychiatric patients who received consultations from the BUP consultation service. Descriptive and comparative statistics were performed. <b>Results</b>: The sample was predominantly male, with significant unemployment and housing instability. Patients were hospitalized for depressive, bipolar, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Over 90% of patients were discharged on buprenorphine, with over 50% being connected to specialized substance use services. No increase in the length of stay was found, and no difference in outcomes was observed based on diagnosis or BUP discharge status. <b>Discussion/Conclusions</b>: This novel service was effective in providing OUD treatment to patients with complex co-occurring psychiatric disorders without significantly increasing their length of stay. Despite acute exacerbations in psychiatric illness, patients were able to engage in discussions regarding BUP. While the study was limited in scope, it underscores the feasibility of integrating OUD treatment in the acute psychiatric inpatient setting.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/4/2/11opioid use disorderbuprenorphineco-occurring disordersaddiction consultationinpatient psychiatry |
| spellingShingle | Sean T. Lynch Victor Gordillo Ashley Sacks Emily Groenendaal Lidia Klepacz Eldene Towey Stephen J. Ferrando Treating Opioid Use Disorder on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit: A Novel Buprenorphine Consultation Service Pharmacoepidemiology opioid use disorder buprenorphine co-occurring disorders addiction consultation inpatient psychiatry |
| title | Treating Opioid Use Disorder on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit: A Novel Buprenorphine Consultation Service |
| title_full | Treating Opioid Use Disorder on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit: A Novel Buprenorphine Consultation Service |
| title_fullStr | Treating Opioid Use Disorder on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit: A Novel Buprenorphine Consultation Service |
| title_full_unstemmed | Treating Opioid Use Disorder on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit: A Novel Buprenorphine Consultation Service |
| title_short | Treating Opioid Use Disorder on the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit: A Novel Buprenorphine Consultation Service |
| title_sort | treating opioid use disorder on the inpatient psychiatric unit a novel buprenorphine consultation service |
| topic | opioid use disorder buprenorphine co-occurring disorders addiction consultation inpatient psychiatry |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/4/2/11 |
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