Appearance of new symptoms in hospitalized patients: an instance of institutional iatrogenesis?

Data from the admission and termination forms of 100 consecutively discharged psychiatric inpatients were analyzed to determine the changes that occurred in the symptom profile of each patient during hospitalization. In general, patients entered the hospitalization. In general, patients entered the hospital with severe, chronic symptoms some of which were relieved and some of which remained unchanged. A number of symptoms, however, were reported present on the termination forms that had not been noted at admission. The results of this study offer evidence that a possible effect of the therapeutic process is the occasional appearance of new symptoms in some patients.