title: A 12-month follow-up study of people with dementia referred to general hospital liaison psychiatry services.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  new services for patients with dementia in general hospitals are being widely developed. Little is known of outcomes after hospital for such patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to establish outcomes for patients with dementia referred to general hospital psychiatric services.
  
  
  METHODS
  prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  two UK general hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  referrals with dementia to liaison psychiatric services.
  
  
  METHODS
  eligible referrals (n = 112), and their carers, were assessed during admission, and at 6 and 12 months, using battery of health measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  mortality at 6 months was 31% and at 12 months 40%. At baseline, 13% lived in a care home, rising to 84% by 6 months. Quality of life scores remained stable over 12 months, while carer stress fell significantly. Baseline clinical and demographic variables did not predict quality of life or carer stress at 6 and 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  dementia liaison services in general hospitals currently focus on poor outcome cases.
authors.affiliation: John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: Ranjit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lall
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gage
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: dementia; hospital; older people; outcomes