The prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among adults living in institutions

Abstract

This paper presents prevalence data from the 1994 OPCS survey of psychiatric morbidity among adults permanently resident in institutions catering for people with mental health problems in Great Britain. It describes briefly the survey methods used, and how diagnoses of psychiatric morbidity were derived. Its main aim is to show the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in different types of institutional settings. Residents were eligible for the survey if they were aged 16 to 64 at the date of sampling and were permanently resident at the establishment. Residents were defined as permanently resident if they had been living in the sampled establishment for six months or more, or had no other permanent address, or were likely to stay in the establishment for the foreseeable future. In 1994, about 33,200 adults aged 16 to 64 were permanently resident in accommodation for people with mental health problems. About a third of residents were in NHS hospitals, while about two-thirds were in residential care facilities. About two-thirds of adults interviewed suffered from schizophrenia, delusional and schizoaffective disorders. About 8% suffered from neurotic disorders and 8% suffered from affective psychoses (mainly bipolar affective disorder). The prevalence of schizophrenia, delusional, and schizoaffective disorders was higher in hospitals than in residential care, while the prevalence of neurotic and related disorders was higher in residential accommodation. The prevalence of schizophrenia, delusional, and schizoaffective disorders was higher in NHS psychiatric hospitals and general hospital units than in private hospitals, clinics or nursing homes.