Adjustment to Relocation of Long-Stay Patients with a Psychiatric Hospital Setting

Abstract

A social ecological study was undertaken of involuntary relocation within the long-stay sector of a psychiatric hospital, enforced by ward closures. This was done by monitoring changes in ward atmosphere on 6 of 11 wards before and after the closures. The conclusion is that the so-called ‘disturbed’ patients are easily upset by changes of routine but possibly also because paradoxically the slightly younger patients on these wards do not seem to adjust to the change so well. It may be that the older patients on long-stay wards are already resigned to the process of institutionalization.