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Mental hospital and general hospital psychiatric units: a comparison of services within the same geographic area

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Ashok K. Malla  and
Ross M. G. Norman
Ashok K. Malla*
Affiliation:
Waterford Hospital, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada
Ross M. G. Norman
Affiliation:
Waterford Hospital, St John's, Newfoundland, Canada
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Ashok K. Malla, Mental Health Clinic, Public General Hospital, Chatham. Ontario, Canada.
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Synopsis

A comparison was made between the characteristics of patients admitted to the only psychiatric hospital in Newfoundland, Canada, and those admitted to general hospital psychiatric units within the same area. Patients were compared on demographic characteristics, diagnosis, incidence of violence and suicidal attempts, treatment, length of stay and previous admissions. The results suggest that patients admitted to the mental hospital are more likely to be single, male, of lower socio-economic status and to suffer from more chronic conditions. There is also a higher incidence of violence among patients admitted to the mental hospital. These findings have implications for the types of changes that will be required in general hospital units if the role of mental hospitals continues to decline.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , May 1983 , pp. 431 - 439
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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