THE EFFECTS OF RELOCATION ON LONG-STAY PSYCHIATRIC-PATIENTS

Objective: To assess the effects of relocation on the social behaviour and mental state of a group of 43 long stay psychiatric patients tran sferred from an old institution to a modern hospital. Method: Each pat ient was assessed using the MRC Social Behaviour Schedule and the Manc hester Scale. Assessments were carried out prior to relocation and at six weeks and six months after transfer. Results: Some deterioration w as apparent in the patients' social behaviour at six weeks following r elocation but this trend was reversed to definite improvement at six m onths. There was an overall marked reduction in hostility and violence following relocation. Patients who showed most improvement in terms o f social behaviour were the lower functioning group where greater emph asis was placed on promoting basic self care and social skills rather than on occupational therapy. Changes in mental state, following reloc ation, were minimal but a slight deterioration occurred especially in the area of negative symptoms. Conclusions: Relocations caused no seri ous adverse effects in the majority of these patients. The improvement observed in certain aspects of behaviour are attributable to the impr oved physical and psychological milieu of the receiving hospital.