PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDER AND DISABILITY IN NEW-ZEALAND LONG-STAY PSYCHIATRIC-PATIENTS

A study was undertaken of the prevalence of physical disease, psychiat ric disorder and deviant behaviour in a sample of 137 long stay psychi atric patients at Porirua Hospital near Wellington, New Zealand. Patie nts were in the main male, single, middle-aged to elderly and of Europ ean descent. Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis. Psychiatric symptoms were moderately severe, the most common being unusual manneri sms and posturing, anxiety, blunted affect, tension, unusual thought c ontent and somatic concerns. Known physical disorders were present in 66 patients. Levels of neuroleptic medication were high and tardive dy skinesia was observed in almost 60% of patients. Frequency of deviant behaviour was low in absolute terms but nonetheless problematic. The f requency of deviant behaviour was similar to those reported for Britis h patients.