Mood and behaviour problems following the relocation of elderly patients with mental illness.
A prospective case-controlled study was carried out to evaluate the effect of an enforced move of elderly dementia sufferers from a large psychiatric hospital to smaller units in two general district hospitals. Changes in behaviour and nursing dependency, and mortality rate were used as outcome variables. The main finding was that a large proportion of the sample showed significant depressive behaviour following transfer. A significant degree of disturbed behaviour and disorientation remained 3 months after the move. There was some increase in the mortality rate of the group transferred relative to a comparison group but this did not reach statistical significance.
Community Team for Mental Health in the Elderly, Hither Green Hospital, London.
K
K
Anthony
A W
AW
Procter
A M
AM
Silverman
E
E
Murphy
D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001519:Behavior; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010360:Patient Transfer; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital