Who become long-stay patients in a psychiatric hospital?

Abstract

The present study was undertaken at Dikemark Hospital where the authors studied all first-time admissions in 1970, over a period of 4-5 years. The aim was to study the course of the illness, focusing on the problem: who become long-stay patients in a psychiatric hospital? Which factors relate to prolonged hospital stay and chronicity? Is it possible, at an early stage, to predict the "chronic"? It is possible to do more to prevent chronicity of patients in psychiatric hospitals? These were some of the questions to be studied. We present here some of the results of the inquiry. The conclusion is: it is important to make greater efforts to diagnose patients in danger of becoming long-stay patients. The following proposal is put forth and argued for: all patients staying in hospital for more than 6 months should be examined and reassessed by an interdisciplinary team with regard to intensive treatment and possible rehabilitation.