PATTERNS OF CARE AMONG PEOPLE WITH LONG-TERM FUNCTIONAL-PSYCHOSIS IN 3 DIFFERENT AREAS OF STOCKHOLM COUNTY

This study of long-term functionally psychotic people in Stockholm County describes the psychiatric and somatic care provided as well as social welfare support and medication in a total cohort. This group included all non-organic cases of psychosis aged 18-64 years. The group was found still to be very dependent on institutional care, with an average of 75 d of psychiatric inpatient care. Males spent twice as long as females as inpatients, and people from the urban area spent a longer time than those from the other areas. Antipsychotic medication increased from the rural to the urban area. The diagnosis of schizophrenia and early age at onset were each per se associated with higher likelihood of inpatient treatment and depot medication. Contrary to expectations, medication with antipsychotic drugs was shown to increase with illness duration.