Does hospital admission affect dependency levels of elderly psychiatric patients?
OBJECTIVE
To study effect of hospital admission on dependency levels of psychogeriatric patients.


METHODS
A cohort was formed comprising consecutive admissions. This was subdivided into organic and functional cases and the dependency levels of the two groups compared on admission and discharge.


METHODS
An acute psychogeriatic ward at a psychiatric hospital near London.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive acute elderly psychiatric inpatients.


METHODS
The Stockton Geriatric Rating Scale was used to assess dependency levels, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Mini-Mental State Examination for cognitive impairment.


RESULTS
Patients with functional illness showed a significant reduction in dependency levels compared to organic cases during admission.


CONCLUSIONS
Admission to hospital has a significant effect in reducing dependency levels of elderly patients with functional illness.
Brackenridge
P
P
Psychogeriatric Unit, Warlingham Park Hospital Surrey, UK.
Courtnay
K
K
Jha
A
A
Lawrence
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003858:Dependency, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010343:Patient Admission; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital