The British Journal of Psychiatry 153: 174-177 (1988)
© 1988 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Scottish survey of chronically ill day patients: 3-year follow-up
RG McCreadie, LF Pieri and RJ McGuire
Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries.
Chronically ill day patients were followed up 3 years after identification
in the catchment areas of 13 psychiatric hospitals serving 54% of the
Scottish population. Five per cent had died, 6% were in-patients, 56%
remained day patients and 14% were supported by community psychiatric
nurses or attended an out-patient clinic; contact had been lost with 19%.
Over 3 years, 32% had had at least one admission to in-patient care; a wide
range of other services was also used. There was little change in the level
of disability; a typical patient in contact at follow-up was single,
schizophrenic, and rather disabled.