Psychiatric and somatic hospitalisations of different diagnostic groups: a long-term follow-up study.

Out of 328 cases with different diagnoses, including those without pathological findings at follow-up, the frequency and duration of in-patient treatment in psychiatric and somatic institutions was observed over an average 14-year period. Schizophrenics were more frequently and longer in psychiatric institutions, but they were less frequently and for shorter periods in somatic care compared with all other diagnostic groups. Patients suffering from affective psychosis had comparatively long psychiatric and somatic periods of hospitalisation. Dependents were hospitalised more frequently and longer for psychiatric rather than for medical reasons in somatic institutions. The total psychiatric in-patient treatment time was distinctly shorter for neurotic disorders compared with schizophrenic psychosis or affective psychosis cases.