Psychiatric diagnoses, outcomes and lengths of stay of patients admitted to an acute psychogeriatric unit

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Abstract
One hundred and ten consecutive patients admitted to an acute psychogeriatric unit were assessed with the Geriatric Mental State Schedule, Assigned a DSM‐III‐R diagnosis and their length of stay in hospital and discharge destination noted. Forty‐two per cent of patients had organic disorders (mainly dementia), 32% had affective disorders (mainly depression) 23% had schizophrenia or a related disorder. The median length of stay was 29 days and bore little relation to diagnosis, age, sex or cognitive function. Patients with an organic mental disorder were more likely to enter long‐term institutional care, but 78% of patients were able to return to the same level of accommodation (own home, hostel or nursing home) that they had occupied prior to admission. On a four‐point non‐blind outcome scale, 86% of patients were rated as improved at discharge.

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