[Neglect of elderly patients in psychiatric clinic admission].
BACKGROUND
We investigated whether older patients are disadvantaged compared to younger patients on admission to a psychiatric clinic.


METHODS
Using odds ratio and Mantel-Haenszel statistics, the null hypothesis is tested of whether patients over sixty-five years old who do not live in the sector of the catchment area of a psychiatric clinic have the same changes of admission as patients over sixty-five who live in this sector.


RESULTS
Older sector patients and younger non-sector patients are preferentially admitted compared to older non-sector patients. The odds ratio of the particular groups deviated highly significantly from 3.83, thus refuting the null hypothesis.


CONCLUSIONS
Younger patients are preferentially admitted by the clinical psychiatrist.
Massing
W
W
Psychiatrische Tagesklinik, Landeshauptstadt Hannover. ndxdmass@rrzn-user.uni-hannover.de
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011287:Prejudice