AGE AND COMPULSORY ADMISSION

Compulsory admission is not just restricted to younger psychiatric pat ients. However, despite the differences in clinical presentation betwe en younger and older adults, there has been very little research compa ring different age groups. In this study, elderly and younger adult pa tients who had compulsory psychiatric admissions were compared accordi ng to a number of social and clinical variables. Elderly patients were less likely to have police involvement in an admission but more likel y to be referred by their own GP and to live alone. The particular nee ds of the elderly could be reflected by better guidelines on the use o f the Mental Health Act.