PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT IN A DELIMITED POPULATION – WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO OUTPATIENTS

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Abstract
The present investigation analyzes the psychiatric service available to and utilized by a population in a geographically delimited area, namely the Randers area [Denmark] with a population of 108,928. During the period 1970-74, the average yearly rate of patients admitted to the 3 psychiatric institutions covering this area was per 1000: 7.9 males and 9.1 females. During 1970-71, 1.2 males and 1.8 females per 1000 were treated as outpatients in a psychiatric clinic affiliated to a psychiatric hospital, and a psychiatric outpatient clinic in a general hospital discharged 4.1 males and 7.7 females per 1000. Despite outpatient treatment the number of admissions increases slightly rather than decreases, and consequently, outpatient treatment cannot replace psychiatric admission.