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Chronic patients in psychiatric institutions: psychopathology, level of functioning and need for care
Author(s) -
Ruud T.,
Martinsen E. W.,
Friis S.
Publication year - 1998
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.1600-0447.1998.tb09963.x
Subject(s) - brief psychiatric rating scale , psychopathology , rehabilitation , psychiatry , medicine , rating scale , psychiatric rehabilitation , psychology , mental health , physical therapy , mental illness , developmental psychology , psychosis
A total of 107 chronic in‐patients in a catchment area of 106000 inhabitants were rated for psychopathology on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale expanded version (BPRS‐E), for level of functioning on the Rehabilitation Evaluation Hall And Baker (REHAB), and for geriatric problems on the Geriatric Rating Scale (GRS). The results showed low levels of severe psychopathology and low to moderate levels of functioning, indicating that the main obstacle to community placement was the lack of functioning. Global assessment by ward nurses with regard to the future level of care needed divided the patients into three categories: 40 patients in need of a psychiatric nursing home, 30 patients in need of a general nursing home, and 37 patients who could potentially be discharged to apartments with community support. This study indicates that the REHAB may help to identify patients who are potential candidates for community placement, while the BPRS‐E may help to identify patients who are still in need of care in a psychiatric institution.