[Access to case records at Aalborg Psychiatric Hospital 1 March 1987-29 February 1988. A prospective study]

The purpose of the investigation was to examine the utilization of the Danish legislation concerning access to case records by means of a prospective registration and questionnaire. During the investigation-period (1.3.1987-29.02.1988) 50 requests were made of which only one was refused for a limited period. The patients requesting to read their records differed from the total population of hospitalized patients as regards diagnosis as significantly more schizofrenic and fewer patients with diagnoses of drug abuse, were found. One of the 32 patients who actually read their records became more psychotic afterwards and two patients stated that they had become agitated. However, 15 patients felt calmer and 29 patients (90.6%) stated that the purpose of requesting access to their records had been fulfilled. The overall impression is that the law, which came into effect 1.1.1987, has functioned adequately although a more restrictive attitude would perhaps have reduced the negative influence on the psychotic conditions observed in three patients.