CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LONG-TERM HOS PITALIZED-PATIENTS - PART OF THE BERLIN DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION STUDY

The Berlin Deinstitutionalization Study investigates effects of the pl anned 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 tha n 6 months, were examined. The total sample was 422 patients. Treatmen t situation and needs for nursing care are reported. The primary diagn osis according to ICD-10 was organic disorder (incl. Korsakov's syndro me) in 70 patients and mental retardation in 61. Psychopathology and s ocial 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 small er groups (together 31 %).