Physycal morbidity in a Long-stay psychiatric population scheduled for relocation:: The extent of the problem and its likely impact on successful placement.

The physical disabilities of 102 long-stay inpatients in three psychiatric hospitals scheduled for closure were assessed using the Community Placement Questionnaire, OPCS Disability Questionnaire, Clifton Assessment Procedures for the Elderly, Mini-Mental State Examination, and casenote scrutiny. Patients had a complex mix of psychiatric and physical morbidity, with significant cognitive impairment present in up to 80% of the sample. Staff assessments suggested that over half needed continuing hospital care, with a further quarter requiring high dependency facilities. Appropriate alternative arrangement to long-stay psychiatric hospital care need to take more account of the wide range of severe and multiple physical and cognitive impairments if premature breakdown of their community care is to be avoided.