Geriatric psychiatry as a part of a general hospital apart from the university center

Purpose: At the General Hospital in Thun (Switzerland) a memory clinic was established in 1999. Method: The first 55 cases (30 females and 25males) we re statistically analysed as a part of internal quality management. The pat ients were examined using a usual assessment including physical and psychia tric examination, blood and neuropsychological testing (Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale). Results: 14% of the examined patients did show kind of cognitive deficit. Men yielded significantly better results in neuropsychol ogical testing than women. Conclusions: The general acceptance of the new m emory clinic in Thun is due to the growing demand for such institutions bec ause of the demographic development. Men's better results in neurological t esting might be a sign of different reaction-patterns of their families, th at make family practitioners send them at an earlier stage of dementia.