A comparative census study of Danish schizophrenic patients in 1977 and 1982

The present register-based investigation includes all hospitalized schizophrenic patients in Denmark on census days in September 1977 and September 1982. In 1977 the rates were 107.8 and 88.1 per 100,000 inhabitants aged 15 years or more for males and females, respectively, and correspondingly 99.2 and 71.5 in 1982. The prevalence rates of first admitted on the census days had decreased slightly in the older age groups from 1977 to 1982 but were unchanged in the age groups 15-44 years. The long-stay groups were smaller but at the same time the rates of re-admitted younger males had increased. Only a few changes between the distribution of the two groups' marital status occurred and there was still a considerable excess of single and divorced among the schizophrenic patients. More patients were in day-patient care and in nursing homes and fewer were admitted as in-patients, although in 1982 56% of the males and 52% of the females were in the latter type of care. The percentage of committed patients decreased from 12.6 to 9.1 for the males and from 8.9 to 7.0 for the females. This decrease was most pronounced in the group of patients admitted because of dangerous behaviour. The results are discussed especially in relation to reductions in available beds in psychiatric institutions.