Citation

Lelliott P, Wing J, Clifford P. Br. J. Psychiatry 1994; 165(2): 160-169.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1994, Royal College of Psychiatry)

DOI

10.1192/bjp.165.2.160

PMID

7953029

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This first report of a national audit of new long-stay (NLS) psychiatric patients conducted in 1992 describes the survey method and characteristics of the cohort.
METHOD: Psychiatrists from 59 UK mental health services returned data on 905 patients, aged 18-64 on admission, who had been in hospital for between six months and three years.
RESULTS: Two particular sub-groups were observed. Younger NLS patients (aged 18-34) were predominantly single men with schizophrenia; 43% of these had a history of serious violence, dangerous behaviour or admission to a Special Hospital and over one-third were formally detained. Older NLS patients (aged 55-67) were predominantly married or previously married women, more often with a diagnosis of affective disorder or dementia and with poor personal and social functioning; over half were at moderate or severe risk of non-deliberate self-harm.
CONCLUSIONS: Despite the continued policy of bed closures and focus on care in the community, some patients admitted recently to psychiatric units in the UK still have protracted hospital stays.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Cohort Studies; Dangerous Behavior; Dementia; Female; Humans; Length of Stay; Long-Term Care; Male; Medical Audit; Mental Disorders; Middle Aged; Mood Disorders; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenic Psychology; Social Adjustment; State Medicine; United Kingdom; Violence