Clinical characteristics in long-term care psychiatric patients: a descriptive study.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and related comorbid conditions of psychiatric patients admitted to residential facilities (RFs) and their impact on the levels of functioning of such patients.


METHODS
We assessed 426 patients admitted to residential facilities, by using SCID-I, SCID-II, BPRS, GAF and DAS.


RESULTS
The most common diagnostic category was schizophrenia/psychotic disorders (41.8%), followed by affective disorders (35.4%), personality disorders (14.1%), and other disorders (8.7%). In addition 33.3% had a psychiatric comorbidity, and 62.6% had a medical comorbidity. Low levels of functioning were significantly correlated with both medical and psychiatric comorbid conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Comorbidity is common in patients requiring long-term residential care. Thus improved detection and treatment of these conditions in people with severe mental illnesses will have significant benefits for their psychosocial functioning and overall quality of life.
Placentino
Anna
A
Biological Psychiatry Unit and Dual Diagnosis Ward IRCCS, Centro San Giovanni di Dio, Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.
Rillosi
Luciana
L
Papa
Emanuela
E
Foresti
Giovanni
G
Materzanini
Andrea
A
Rossi
Giuseppe
G
Battista Tura
Giovanni
G
Perez
Jorge
J
D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012917:Social Adjustment; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology