The influence of the family status on the hospitalizations of the aged mental patients
The purpose of our study is to determine the influence of the family status and associated life conditions, socio-psychological and clinical factors on the frequency and duration of hospitalizations of the aged mental patients. By means of clinical and socio-psychological techniques two groups of patients over 60 were examined. Single persons (living lonely) (127 persons) formed the main group, control one consisted of patients living within the family (121 persons). There were no differences in age, sex and clinical composition between the groups. The specific weight of single persons was estimated to be higher (p < 0.05), they were hospitalized more often and the duration of staying in hospital was longer (p < 0.05). Indicated differences are connected not so much with clinicopsychopathological factors as with life conditions and socio-psychological ones, as well as with more marked somatic pathology