Primary Article

Toward a Profile of Medically Ill Psychiatric Patients

Authors: WILLIAM G. WALTER-RYAN MD, RENATO D. ALARCON MD, MPH, DANIEL T. MEADOWS MD, RITA WESTBROOK BS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We reviewed 564 consecutive psychiatric inpatient admissions. In support of previous studies, we found 51.9% to have significant medical disorders, nearly half of them “new” or previously unsuspected. Women, the elderly, substance abusers, and patients with nonschizophrenic functional psychoses had a higher prevalence of medical disorders. Using this information as a starting point, further work should be done to define a profile of the psychiatric patients at highest risk for medical illnesses.

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References