AGE-DIFFERENCES OF PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS PRESENTING WITH PHYSICAL COMPLICATIONS

We reviewed the records of 292 inpatients in the psychiatric ward of K agoshima University Hospital who were referred from other medical faci lities over a 5-year period in order to clarify age differences in the reason for referral. Patients were classified into groups of physical ly and mentally ill individuals based on indications for admission. Bo th groups were further divided into four subgroups based on age. The i ncidence of inpatients with physical illnesses increased with age. Con ditions related to pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium occurred a t high frequency in female patients in the 20- to 39-year-old subgroup . Individuals in the 40- to 59-year-old and in the greater than or equ al to 60 years subgroups suffered more frequently from neoplasms. The proportion of patients manifesting a defective state in all age subgro ups with the exception of the under 19-year-old subgroup was significa ntly higher in the physical illness group than in the mental illness g roup. The proportion of patients in a depressive state in the greater than or equal to 60 years subgroup was significantly higher in the men tal illness group than in the physical illness group. Hence, it is nec essary to find a method to be able to cope with psychiatric patients w ith physical complications to solve this problem.