PHYSICAL ILLNESS AMONG ALL DISCHARGED PSYCHIATRIC-INPATIENTS IN A NATIONAL CASE REGISTER

Previous studies have found that although psychiatric patients tend to have more physical illness than the rest of the population, it freque ntly goes unrecognized and untreated in psychiatric settings. This stu dy investigated rates of reported physical illness among hospitalized psychiatric patients in preparation for national reform in mental heal th services. Data from the Israeli National Psychiatric Case Registry were analyzed on reported physical illness among all 38, 714 psychiatr ic discharges during 1989-1991. Physical illness was reported for 10.6 2% of patients under age 25, 14.04% of patients 25 to 44, 34.27% of pa tients 45 to 65, and 61.26% of patients 65 and older Rates differed am ong hospitals. Reported physical illness was considerably lower than e xpected as compared with other studies. Underdiagnosis is suggested as a possible explanation. Study results were used to add differential p ayment for physical comorbidity under the new National Health Insuranc e Law. Other corrective measures are discussed.