CLINICAL AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF GERONTOLOGICAL PATIENTS IN A PSYCHIATRIC-HOSPITAL

In order to study the problem of setting down of mental patients in geriatric units of a mental hospital, a clinico-epidemiological one-day overall study was conducted. It appeared that among 600 patients of a provincial mental hospital 124 (20,6%) were residents of such units. Long-term stayers (over 5 years) comprised a group of 25 patients (20,2%). Most of them were those in whom the onset of schizophrenia took place at young age. The second (according to the number) group consisted of patients with mental disturbances due to organic brain disorders, this group was characterized by an unfavourable previous social status. 80% of them had no place to live in, no close relatives. the authors think It necessary to set up special units of a hostal type for rehabilitation of ''precipitated'' patients within the framework of a mental hospital.