MOOD AND BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS FOLLOWING THE RELOCATION OF ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

• Published in: Age and ageing Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 355 - 365
• Main Authors: ANTHONY, KIM, PROCTER, ANDREW W., SILVERMAN, A. M., MURPHY, ELAINE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-11-1987
• Subjects: Affect; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Behavior; Dementia - psychology; Depression; Female; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Humans; Male; Patient Transfer; Prospective Studies; Psychiatric Department, Hospital
• ISSN: 0002-0729; 1468-2834
• DOI: 10.1093/ageing/16.6.355

A prospective case-controlled study was carried out to evaluate the effect of an enforced move of elderly dementia sufferers from a large psychiatric hospital to smaller units in two general district hospitals. Changes in behaviour and nursing dependency, and mortality rate were used as outcome variables. The main finding was that a large proportion of the sample showed significant depressive behaviour following transfer. A significant degree of disturbed behaviour and disorientation remained 3 months after the move. There was some increase in the mortality rate of the group transferred relative to a comparison group but this did not reach statistical significance.