Læknablaðið - 01.10.1973, Blaðsíða 36

204
LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
nægilegur fyrir 60-70 þús. manns. Ein-
angrun spítalans veldur því hins vegar,
að hann getur ekki veitt fullkomna þjón-
ustu, eins og geðdeildir tengdar öðrum
spítölum eiga að gera. Eigi að veita full-
komna geðlæknisþjónustu, verða geðdeild-
irnar að vera landfræðilega og rekstrar-
lega nátengdar öðrum spítaladeildum. Þar
verða að vera göngudeildir, sem, auk eftir-
meðferðar, eiga að geta sinnt geðsjúkl-
ingum, sem ekki hafa dvalizt á spítala
eoa eiga eftir að dveljast þar um stundar-
sakir. Einnig þarf að auka möguleikana
á því að fara í vitjanir heim til geðsjúkl-
inga, þannig að unnt sé að fylgjast betur
með þeim á heimilum þeirra. Síðast en
ekki sízt þarf að sjálfsögðu stórauknar
rannsóknir og þrotlausa leit að nýjum leið-
um til að flýta fyrir bata og útskrift
sjúklinganna.
SUMMARY
The annual number of first admissions to
the psychiatric hospital in Reykjavík, Klepps-
spítalinn, during the 20 year period 1951-1970
has greatly increased. The purpose of the in-
vestigation was to analyse and explain the
alterations which have taken place during this
period. Progress in psychiatric treatment dur-
ing this twenty year period is discussed, for
instance introduction of rnodern psycho-
pharmacotherapy and various forms of group
therapy, family therapy and therapeutic
community. The most remarkable changes and
reforms which have been established in thera-
peutic activities and organization of Klepps-
spítalinn are briefly mentioned. In November
1963 the hospital took over a separate clinic
for alcoholics with 24 beds. In 1964 an am-
bulatory after-care service was started which
is in steady expansion. The number of doctors
is approximately three times as great at the
end of the period as at the beginning. Social
workers, psychologists and psychiatric nurses
have been appointed to the hospital. By look-
ing at the number of admissions it was ob-
vious that the twenty year period could be
divided into two parts. Therefore it was de-
cided to compare the average annual number
of first admissions during the two periods ’51-
’62 and ’63-’70, as well as the length of stay.
Graphs and tables on the average annual
number of first admissions during the periods
’51-’62 and ’63-’70 according to diagnoses are
demonstrated, together with a table showing
the average length of stay for patients ad-
mitted for the first time during these two
periods. The number of admissions has greatly
increased and the length of stay for all dia-
gnostic groups has decreased except for alco-
holics and drug addicts. The duration of stay
for these patient groups has somewhat in-
creased during the later period (’63-’70).
Possible explanation of these facts is dis-
cussed. The length of stay for schizophrenic
patients has shown the greatest decrease, the
average duration of stay during the later
period is only one tenth of the average length
of stay during the former period.
The average annual number of first ad-
missions was 69,1 in the former period but
234,6 in the later period. The average length
of stay for patients admitted for the first
time was 305 days in the former period but
only 58 days in the later period.
The results seem to reveal that improved
working conditions, increased staff resources
together with ambulatory after care service
has resulted in shorter duration of stay and
thereby in better utilization of the hospital
beds.
HEIMILDIR
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