[Patients at a psychiatric residential institution in Djursland].
BACKGROUND
Due to a reduction in the number of psychiatric hospital beds and the establishment of places at residential institutions, a large number of patients with severe mental illness receive limited attention from psychiatrists and psychiatric nurses. This situation mandates an investigation whether this leads to health-related problems.


METHODS
All patients at the social-psychiatric residential institution Tangkaercentret were offered an extensive health check, and use of medication as well as somatic and psychiatric morbidity were recorded.


RESULTS
The investigation revealed a group of people with very severe mental illness and several sub-optimally treated bodily diseases. Furthermore, a high incident of violent episodes and psychotic behaviour among the patients and a high use of short admissions among a few of the patients were observed. Metabolic syndrome occurred twice as frequently as in the background population. This may be due to an unhealthy lifestyle and psychopharmacological treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Regular screening for psychiatric and somatic illnesses of such populations should be mandatory to ensure the best possible treatment. In some of the cases, optimal treatment would probably require admission to a long-stay psychiatric ward and use of the options provided by psychiatric legislation.
Videbech
Poul
P
Center for Psykiatrisk Forskning, Arhus Universitetshospital, Risskov, DK-8240 Risskov, Denmark. videbech@dadlnet.dk
Buxbom
Lotte
L
Gerdes
Ulrik
U
Frederiksen
Jan
J
Lønstrup
Johanne
J
Tehrani
Elisabeth
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D012112:Residential Facilities; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric; D014754:Violence
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs