title: The value of laboratory investigations of elderly psychiatric patients.
abstract: The usefulness of routine laboratory tests was examined in elderly psychiatric patients upon admission to the hospital. Only 6 of the 20 tests required for each patient led to the detection and treatment of an illness; these "useful" tests accounted for only 1.4% of all tests done. Methods by which the usefulness of the screening protocol might be improved are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis