The psychiatric inpatient unit in the general hospital: clinical demography.

Data from the University of Iowa Psychiatric Hospital are consistent with national trends. Inpatients tend to be young, female, and have psychotic rather than non-psychotic disorders. Women were significantly older than men at admission for most psychiatric disorders. During the past 20 years, length of stay has dropped by over 50%, while admissions have almost trebled and re-admissions doubled. Historic trends are reviewed and clinical implications are discussed.