[Description of a group of psychiatric patients difficult to place].
BACKGROUND
There are long-term patients in psychiatric hospitals, who are often referred to as new long-stay patients: the heavy users consumers of psychiatric services and difficult-to-place patients.


METHODS
Social characteristics, diagnosis, need for care, function, and admission patterns were compared in a group of heavy user patients (N = 39) and a group of difficult-to-place patients (N = 14).


CONCLUSIONS
The difficult-to-place patients were more often men, more often had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, had a lower socio-economic status, and lower GAF scores. The difficult-to-place patients rated the same amount of need for care as did the heavy users, but were assessed by the staff to have a greater need for care. The results support the view that the difficult-to-place patients comprise a distinct group. Services for the difficult-to-place patients must combine highly differentiated care with few demands and greater tolerance with respect to problem behaviour.
Nielsen
L F
LF
Roskilde Amtssygehus Fjorden.
Petersen
L
L
Werdelin
G
G
Hou
B J
BJ
Lindhardt
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003718:Denmark; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010343:Patient Admission; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy