Abstract

This study explores the rationale and need for a short-stay psychiatric unit at Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) district hospital. The paper describes the demographic and diagnostic characteristics of patients with brief admissions over 40% – of all psychiatric admissions – most of whom have neurotic, stress-related and adjustment disorders. Only 12% of patients were severely disabled and in about half the patients, anxiolytic or no medications were prescribed. Significant reduction of distress was achieved by brief admission. In current circumstances, we believe that the short-stay unit might be the best available and least costly option.

Highlights

  • Background and rationaleFrom the inception of psychiatric services in Al Ain, in the early 1970s, services to mentally ill persons were delivered through an out-patient general hospital psychiatric unit and a joint medico-psychiatric in-patient unit

  • Plans for rehabilitative and commu nity oriented psychiatry were put forward. All this opened the door for postgraduate training programmes in psychiatry and the newly estab lished service was granted a provisional recogni

  • About 5% had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and related disorders

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Summary

Background and rationale

From the inception of psychiatric services in Al Ain, in the early 1970s, services to mentally ill persons were delivered through an out-patient general hospital psychiatric unit and a joint medico-psychiatric in-patient unit. The arrival of the university department of psychiatry in 1990 was an impetus for the expansion of psychiatric services in Al Ain. Psychiatric ser vices were extended into primary health care, new medical, paramedical and nursing staff were recruited and a new psychiatric unit with more bed capacity than the old one was established in July 1993. Plans for rehabilitative and commu nity oriented psychiatry were put forward. All this opened the door for postgraduate training programmes in psychiatry and the newly estab lished service was granted a provisional recogni-

The study
Findings
Two drugs
Conclusion
Full Text
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