title: Changing aspects of psychiatric inpatient treatment. A census investigation in five European countries.
abstract: This paper presents data obtained in a one-day census investigation in five European countries (Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia). The census forms were filled in for 4191 psychiatric inpatients. Concerning legal status, 11.2% were hospitalised against their will (committed) and 21.4% were treated in a ward with locked doors. There was only a small correlation between commitment and treatment in a locked ward. More frequent than treatment of committed patients in locked wards was treatment of committed patients in open wards (Austria, Hungary) and treatment of voluntary patients in closed wards (Slovakia, Slovenia). Concerning employment, 27.7% of patients aged 18-60 held a job before admission. The vast majority of patients (84.8%) had a length of stay of less than 3 months. A comparison of these data with the results of a study performed in 1996 and using the same method shows a decrease of rates of long-stay patients. In 1996 the rates of employment were significantly higher in Romania (39.3%) and Slovakia (42.5%) compared to Austria (30.7%). These differences disappeared in 1999 due to decreasing rates of employment in Romania and Slovakia. The numbers of mental health personnel varies between types of institution (university or non-university) and countries, being highest in Austria and lowest in Romania. A considerable increase in the numbers of staff was found in Slovakia.
authors.affiliation: OO Landes-Nervenklinik Wagner-Jauregg, Linz, Austria. hans.rittmannsberger@gespag.at
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rittmannsberger
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sartorius
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brad
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Burtea
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Capraru
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cernak
authors.forename: Mojca
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dernovçek
authors.forename: Ionescu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dobrin
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frater
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hasto
authors.forename: Mieta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hategan
authors.forename: Manfred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haushofer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kafka
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: Rodica
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macrea
authors.forename: Ludvik
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nabelek
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nawka
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novotny
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Platz
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pojar
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silberbauer
authors.forename: Sandor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wancata
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Windhager
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Zapotoczky
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zöchling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D019352:Censuses; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012383:Romania; D012637:Security Measures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018154:Slovakia; D013557:Switzerland