[Dynamics of the epidemiological characteristics of registered contingents of schizophrenia patients]

Different populations of schizophrenic patients under this study were registered by three of the Moscow city outpatient psychiatric departments in 1967, 1975 and 1981. These populations' epidemiologic characteristics compared, the following could be concluded: (1) the specific quantity of patients with psychotic disorders diminished, (2) the percentage of aged patients diminished, (3) the mean observation term reduced. Some other characteristics of the tendency to worsen the medical assistance to psychiatric patients were demonstrated. Factors causing such a trend are discussed and the ways to overcome these difficulties outlined.