PREVALENCE AND COURSE OF PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS AMONG NURSING-HOME ADMISSIONS

Several studies have shown that psychiatric disorders are common in nu rsing homes, but information on the course of psychiatric morbidity sh ortly after admission is still lacking. Therefore, we interviewed 262 residents of Austrian nursing homes within 2 weeks following admission , and a second time after 6 months. Using the Clinical Interview Sched ule and its case criteria, prevalence was 76.3% at admission, and 69.9 % 6 months later. In the intervening period, the mortality rate was ma rkedly higher among psychiatric cases, and the incidence of new psychi atric cases (5.9%) was slightly lower than the rate of remission (8.6% ). At both assessments, organic mental illness was the most frequent d iagnosis. Nursing home residents suffering from psychiatric disorders were treated predominantly by general practitioners applying a psychot ropic drug regimen.