[Clinical characteristics of long-term hospitalized patients. Part I of the Berlin Deinstitutionalization Study]

The Berlin Deinstitutionalization Study investigates effects of the planned reduction of psychiatric hospital beds in Berlin prospectively. In the beginning cross-sectional survey all adult psychiatric patients from two and a half districts, who had been hospitalized for more than 6 months, were examined. The total sample was 422 patients. Treatment situation and needs for nursing care are reported. The primary diagnosis according to ICD-10 was organic disorder (incl. Korsakov's syndrome) in 70 patients and mental retardation in 61. Psychopathology and social disabilities were examined in 237 of the remaining 291 patients. On average, psychopathology and disabilities were moderate. A cluster analysis classified three groups. When patients should be discharged, special protective measures might be necessary only for the two smaller groups (together 31%).