Patients with delusions in a community psychiatric service. A follow-up study.
Case records of 546 patients referred for the first time to a community psychiatric service were studied. Fifty-six patients revealed delusions of various types. The female/male ratio was 2:1, and the mean age 57 years. The majority of the paranoid patients belonged to the lowest socio-economic groups. Symptomatology, including type of delusion, treatment given and diagnostic classification is presented. The delusions occurred as part of all major psychotic syndromes with a preponderance of organic and affective psychoses. After 5-20 years of observation a full remission without relapse was seen in only 5%. However, the predictive value of delusions has not been sufficiently established, and the need for prospective studies of course and prognosis of psychoses with delusions is stressed.
Jørgensen
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P
Munk-Jørgensen
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P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000628:therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D010259:Paranoid Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012563:Schizophrenia, Paranoid / Q000628:therapy