title: Lessons from the past: Family involvement in patient admission and discharge, Beechworth Lunatic Asylum, 1900-1912.
abstract: In this study, document analysis is used to examine case books from the Beechworth Lunatic Asylum with the aim of determining the extent of family involvement in patients' admission and discharge. There were 420 male and 278 female patients admitted in the study period, with over half transferred from other Victorian asylums. Next of kin were identified for 64% of male and 84% of female patients. Families were involved in the admission of 52 (12%) male and 50 (18%) female patients, usually by bringing patients to the asylum or providing evidence of behavioural changes. Approximately 25% of patients were discharged (101 men and 62 women) and of these, families were involved in discharge for 26% of male and 71% of female patients, mainly by taking responsibility for them during trial discharge. Occasionally families refused to do this, or sought to have patients detained because of fears of violence. The relevance of the study to contemporary practice is explored, particularly the need for dialogue between clinicians and families who identify behavioural changes in family members, appropriate support for family carers, and timely provision of community care following discharge from inpatient facilities.
authors.affiliation: Clarks Clerks Research Services, Lavington, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4398-4623
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000266:history / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000266:history*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000266:history / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014739:Victoria; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: document analysis; family involvement; lunatic asylum; patient admission; patient discharge