Wandering at Heathrow Airport by the Mentally Unwell

Abstract

Over a two-year period, 24 patients were admitted from Heathrow airport to the catchment area psychiatric hospital, St. Bernard's, 19 under compulsion, after they had attracted attention whilst wandering aimlessly at Heathrow airport, as opposed to arriving or departing. Diagnostic and epidemiological data is presented, together with vignettes of three typical cases. Of these patients, 16 were suffering from schizophrenia and this overwhelming preponderance is considered, together with the fact that eight persons had previous admissions under similar circumstances.