THE TAPS PROJECT .1. PREVIOUS PSYCHIATRIC-DIAGNOSIS AND CURRENT DISABILITY OF LONG-STAY PSYCHOGERIATRIC PATIENTS - A PILOT-STUDY

Of all 89 long-stay residents in four psychogeriatric wards at a large London psychiatric hospital, 18 had a previous functional psychiatric diagnosis. Although the total group was markedly impaired overall, male sex, younger age, and a previous functional diagnosis were independently associated with better cognitive performance. Males and those with previous functional disorders also had less behavioural disability. These subgroups within the psychogeriatric inpatient population must be recognised if an in-built distortion in community reprovision of hospital psychogeriatric services is to be avoided.