THE WORK OF A COMMUNITY MENTAL-HEALTH TEAM FOR THE ELDERLY - REFERRALS, CASELOADS, CONTACT HISTORY AND OUTCOMES

A random sample of 120 open cases on the caseloads of two community me ntal health teams for elderly people, operating an open access policy, were followed up over 18 months. In comparison with referrals, caselo ads had a higher proportion of patients with affective disorders and f ewer with organic syndromes. Elderly patients with diagnoses of organi c disorders tended to receive shorter episodes of intervention, more a ssociated with assessment and diagnosis than continuing support, compa red with those with affective disorders. A follow-up of those patients who were living at home at the point of sampling indicated that a hig her proportion of those with affective disorders remained in their own homes compared with those with organic disorders.