Actual status of visitor and telephone restrictions for Japanese psychiatric inpatients: A retrospective observational study.

Aim: To clarify the status of visitor and telephone restrictions and the factors associated with these restrictions among patients hospitalized for the treatment of mental disorders. Methods: This study included 1,998 patients hospitalized for the treatment of mental disorders at the Department of Psychiatry, Kitasato University Hospital, and the Department of Psychiatry, Kitasato University East Hospital between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2021. The visitor and telephone restriction ratios of the participants were calculated, and their associations with demographic and clinical data and psychiatric diagnosis were comparatively examined. Results: Of the 1998 participants, 434 (21.7%) experienced visitor restrictions and 631 (31.6%) experienced telephone restrictions. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that young age, involuntary admission, seclusion, physical restraint, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and manic episodes of bipolar I disorder were associated with visitor restrictions. Additionally, young age, hospitalization days, involuntary admission, seclusion, physical restraint, and manic episodes of bipolar I disorder were associated with telephone restrictions. Conclusions: The visitor and telephone restriction ratios were 21.7% and 31.6%, respectively. Age, involuntary admission, seclusion, physical restraint, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and manic episodes of bipolar I disorder were associated with visitor restrictions, and age, hospitalization days, involuntary admission, seclusion, physical restraint, and manic episodes of bipolar I disorder were associated with telephone restrictions. Further research is required to clarify the factors related to visitor and telephone restrictions and their impact on patients to minimize their use.