[Inventory of geriatric psychiatry in Sweden. In short supply where demand does not determine resource allocation].
In 1999 The Swedish Society for Old Age Psychiatry conducted an investigation in all Swedish counties in order to survey existing organizations and resources for medical services intended for elderly people with psychiatric complaints. In some counties there were no out-patient units specifically aimed at elderly people with psychiatric diseases, while more than half had no out-patient units for the large group of elderly with psychiatric ailments other than dementia. The total number of beds was far less than international recommendations. Less than 5 per cent of the total number of Swedish psychiatrists and geriatricians hold positions exclusively for geriatric psychiatry. Access to geriatric psychiatry resources appears to be unevenly distributed, and may be found mainly in or near university cities.
Allard
P
P
Psykiatriska kliniken, Norrlands Universitetssjukhus, Umeå. per.allard@psychiat.umu.se
Ohman
A S
AS
Gustafson
L
L
Karlsson
I
I
Lundmark
J
J
D000368:Aged; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013548:Sweden