title: The Camden schizophrenia surveys. I. The psychiatric, behavioural and social characteristics of the severely mentally ill in an inner London health district.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The development of appropriate community care requires knowledge of the characteristics of the severely mentally ill.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with a broad diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 528) were identified via key informants within an inner London health district; Feighner and DSM-III-R criteria for schizophrenia were applied. Clinical and social status, psychopathology (Manchester Scale) and problem behaviours (Social Behaviour Schedule) were assessed in a 4:5 representative sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-seven per cent had experienced at least one compulsory admission. Forty-five per cent (excluding long-stay in-patients) had marked positive psychotic symptoms; social isolation and lack of daytime activity was more common than among comparable populations elsewhere. One hundred and eleven (25%) of the non-hospitalised patients were not in contact with specialist services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Difficulties in establishing and maintaining a therapeutic alliance between patients and professionals present a challenge to services in inner London. Many social and occupational needs were not being met by existing community provision.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Harvey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*