[A catamnestic study of 73 patients hospitalized in psychiatric units]

The purpose of this study was to describe, among 73 patients, the evolution of their symptoms and the conditions of their psychiatric follow-up care within two years after their first hospitalization. These patients (who had never been hospitalized before in any type of psychiatric unit) were admitted in the psychiatric emergency unit of a general hospital. Five groups were characterized: affective disorders, adaptative disorders, psychotic disorders, substancious disorders, and anxious disorders. The group of affective disorders showed only few improvements in symptoms, although a longer and more regular follow-up care was sustained. The adaptative disorders group had a good prognosis despite a high frequency of follow-up interruptions. Finally, in spite of very frequent symptom aggravations, the group of delusional disorders presented a bad acceptance of psychiatric treatment.