Institutionalisation and schizophrenia in Japan: social environments and negative symptoms: Nationwide survey of in-patients.
BACKGROUND
The number of psychiatric beds per capita in Japan is the highest in the world, and a replication of earlier British research is needed to identify possible means of improving the mental health system. Aims To describe the current situation of psychiatric hospitals in Japan and to examine the relationship between negative symptoms of schizophrenia and social environments.


METHODS
In-patients with schizophrenia were randomly selected from 139 hospitals. Data were obtained for 2758 participants using several scales, including the Manchester Scale and social environment scales.


RESULTS
Negative symptom scales showed a significant correlation with understimulating social environments in hospitals.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the results from the UK and provides evidence for the importance of community-based care and for providing more-stimulating rehabilitation environments.
Oshima
Iwao
I
Department of Mental Health, Tokyo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. i-oshima@aurora.dti.ne.jp
Mino
Yoshio
Y
Inomata
Yoshimasa
Y
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D007564:Japan; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011640:Public Policy; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012931:Social Environment