Mental Handicap Hospital: Issues of Primary and Psychiatric Care

Abstract

This article describes a five year follow-up survey of severity of mental handicap, behavioural disturbance, psychotropic medication and psychiatric illness in residents of a mental handicap hospital in South East London. Levels of behavioural disturbance had dropped since the previous survey, and the vast majority of residents had no diagnosable psychiatric illness. Residents' medical needs are met by general practitioners with psychiatrists providing expert advice and treatment where necessary.