title: Psychiatric service use: a cohort study of first attenders.
abstract: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of all 1047 first-ever psychiatric service attenders to Christchurch general psychiatric services in 1981. All episodes of care were examined to the end of 1989. Only 24% of contacts were as an inpatient. Long-term contacts and frequent presenters formed only 15% of the sample. Nearly all cases not immediately discharged remained within the adult general service. Demographic and clinical variables and patterns of resource use are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Sunnyside Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hobbs
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deavoll
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abernethy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006300:Health Services Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies