[Psychiatric treatment of prisoners in general psychiatric wards exemplified by North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Pfalz].
OBJECTIVE
The study was intended to provide information on the frequency and general condition of inpatient and outpatient treatment of mentally disturbed prisoners in general psychiatry in Germany.


METHODS
Directors of psychiatric institutions and chief physicians of prisons in Nordrhein-Westfalen and Rheinland-Pfalz were interviewed via a standardized questionnaire.


RESULTS
The use of inpatient psychiatric treatment was approximately 0.1 to 2.3% in 1997 with reference to the total admissions in 1997.


CONCLUSIONS
The rare use of psychiatric beds in general psychiatry may reflect obstacles concerning the status of prisoners and reservations regarding difficult patients.
Institut für Forensische Psychiatrie, Freie Universität Berlin.
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Konrad
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Missoni
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data