A Survey of Long-Stay Schizophrenic Patients

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Cross, Harrington and Mayer-Gross (1957), in a survey of the long-stay population of a Birmingham mental hospital, came to the conclusion that “only very small proportions required constant vigilance and about two-thirds required routine care only…. The large majority of patients were ambulant the whole day” but almost one-third had physical diseases of some kind. The major problem was the “large number of passive, indolent and harmless chronic schizophrenics”. The authors specifically made the point that, “to avoid chronicity and utilize every sign of improved behaviour and better adaptation which may lead to discharge, well-trained nursing staff and specialized knowledge is as much needed as in the treatment of earlier patients”.