A PILOT-STUDY OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS

The needs of acute psychiatric patients have been less studied than th ose of long-term patients. A pilot study of needs assessment using the MRC Needs for Care Assessment Schedule is reported in 35 consecutive acute inpatients who had been in hospital for 1 month or more. Unmet c linical needs included treatment of drug side effects and dangerous an d socially embarrassing behaviour. Unmet social needs were widespread and included household shopping, cooking meals, occupation and money m anagement. Although the MRC Needs for Care Assessment was found unsuit able for assessing needs in very acutely ill patients whose mental sta tus was rapidly changing, we did find it a useful instrument in more s table acute patients, both on an individual basis and for identifying service under-provision.