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Patterns of outpatient consultation: A survey of outpatients attending a metropolitan psychiatric hospital
Author(s) -
Wijesinghe C. P.,
Clancy D. J.,
Wink P. M.,
Chopra H. D.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1987.tb02861.x
Subject(s) - metropolitan area , psychiatric hospital , psychiatry , medicine , family medicine , outpatient clinic , pathology
ABSTRACT— A survey of all outpatients ( n = 1135) attending a regional psychiatric hospital during a 3‐month period. Psychoses constituted 72% and non‐psychotic disorders 25%. Psychoses had a greater proportion of long‐term attenders while non‐psychotic disorders, though frequent (43%) among recent attenders, showed a high attrition rate. Demographic characteristics, patterns of attendance, selected clinical features, level of functioning and difficulties of management of the different diagnostic groups are presented and discussed. Reasons are adduced to explain why patients who were deemed suitable for transfer to other care had not been discharged from hospital. Steps taken to reduce the patient load and increase the efficiency of the services are described.