Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs): facilities and clients

This paper describes a cross-sectional study of institutions for mental diseases (IMDs) and the clients they serve in one state. Primary and secondary data were collected to provide an in-depth look at the demographic, social, behavioral, medical, psychiatric and treatment attributes of a random sample of clients in IMDs. Detailed financial, service and operational data were collected on a 100% sample of facilities in the state. The findings indicated a client population dissimilar in age and behavioral attributes from a typical nursing home patient, but in keeping in many respects with the descriptions of nursing home clients with psychiatric disorders. Facilities appeared similar to nursing homes in their size and many operations. This unique database can be used to explore a predictive resource model of these institutions as well as to begin to examine the quality and effectiveness of this form of institutional care for the severely mentally ill.