The heavy users of a psychiatric hospital - A description of patient characteristics, admission patterns, and need for care

Characteristics, diagnosis, need for care, GAF score, and admission pattern s were obtained for a group of patients (n = 48) who were heavy users of a psychiatric hospital. The need for care was measured with the Camberwell as sessment of need. More than half of the patients had a diagnosis of schizop hrenia. The second most common diagnosis was personality disorder. Mean age was 37.5 years. Median number of need for care was 11 according to the pat ients and 12 according to the staff. Overall, the results showed very heter ogeneous patterns with regard to age, disability, need for care, and admiss ion patterns. This could indicate that the mental health services should be come more differentiated and flexible owing to the presence of a heterogene ous, long-term patient population. Individual needs assessment and treatmen t programs tailored the single long-term patient are necessary.