A HOSPITAL POPULATION OF SCHIZOPHRENIC PATINETS UNDERGOING CHANGE

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Abstract
From a census investigation in 1953 at the Aarhus Psychiatric Hospital, 393 schizophrenic patients were selected [population 53 (P53)] and compared with 282 schizophrenics from the 1962 census at the hospital (P62). Through hospital records and the central psychiatric register in Denmark, the population from 1953 was followed for 18 yr, the 1962 population for 9 yr. At admission it appeared that few of the patients had ever married. This was particularly so for the males. The males also belonged to a lower social group than would have been the case in a sample from the general Danish population. In 1962 more patients had obtained State Disability Pension before admission than the 1953 population. More than 2/3 of all admitted schizophrenic patients were in psychiatric hospital within 3 mo. after onset of illness. Around 2/3 were admitted upon the request of relatives. In the investigated period the expenses for medicine per patient had increased 8-fold; expenses for food had less than doubled. Only 15% of the schizophrenic patients in the investigated populations were discharged to their homes; 4% were discharged to a nursing home and 22% had died. Of the 15% discharged to their homes, about 50% were readmitted for some time at a later period. In 1962, however, many more patients were discharged after less than 2 yr of hospital stay than was the case for the 1953 population. The readmission rates increased from 38% in the 1953 population to 62% in the 1962 population.