A study of 100 consecutive admissions to a psychogeriatric unit

A series of 100 consecutive admissions to a psychogeriatric unit in a large public psychiatric hospital is described. Fifty-four of these were readmissions. Most of the patients presented with moderate to severe acute psychiatric disorders, and many of these were admitted under detention orders. Their disorders were often readily treatable and most patients returned to their local communities in less than three weeks. Unexpectedly, only one-third of patients had a primary diagnosis of organic cerebral disorder, and few had received a diagnosis from the referring doctor. The principal reason for the referral of patients was that they were obviously severely disturbed and disturbing within their community. Patients who do not cause a disturbance may thus be underdiagnosed and their treatment unnecessarily compromised. The traditional system of health care seems to be working well and in the interests of these psychogeriatric patients and there is no evidence that radical changes are needed.