[The starting phase of a psychiatric unit--a statistical study].

OBJECTIVE: The work of a psychiatric department (in Rhede/Westphalia) was statistically investigated by compiling the most important patient and therapy data in five year periods over its first decade of existence. METHODS: Data of 1364 admissions were surveyed in the years 1983, 1988 and 1993. These data were statistically analysed and showed age, sex, social class, living conditions, place of residence, distance to hospital, diagnoses, duration of stay, readmission, pre- and aftercare. RESULTS: The number of patients living in the catchmentarea increased, the duration of stay decreased, readmissions increased, the rate of patients without aftercare decreased, the rate of diagnoses kept continuously, patients were more often admitted to hospital directly. CONCLUSIONS: These and further results point out an increasing extent of community based psychiatry in the region.