SS-17-01

The efficacy of speeialised old age psychiatric wards: A multicenter randomised clinical trial

T. Kircher, G. Buchkremer, H. Wormstall, C. Meisner. Klinikfiir Psychiatric u. Psychotherapie, RWTH, Aachen, Germany

Objective: Psychiatric illness in old age poses particular demands on diagnosis and treatment. We compared the one year clinical outcome of a specialised treatment for old age psychiatric patients. 360 consecutively admitted frail inpatients above age 65 and several functional impairments were randomly asigned to a intervention or control group. The intervention group was diagnosed and treated by a specialised old age psychiatric care team (geriatric psychiatrist, nurse, social worker), the control group on a general psychiatric ward. All patients were assessed at admission and after one year follow up with the Timed Up and Go Test, Tinetti Motility Test, functional impairments, ADL, BPRS, MADRS, GDS, quality of life, sensory status, social situation. All treatment interventions during the inpatient treatment were coded. After one year follow up, the two treatment groups did not differ in the primary outcome variables mortality, length of inpatient treatment and nursing home placement. There was also no difference in the secondary outcome variables, such as Depression, ADL, social functioning, subjective well being and others. In conclusion, special geriatric care in frail elderly inpatients in Germany does not seem to have an effect after one year. The study was supported by the German Research Council (DFG), the Ministry of Social Affairs Baden- Württemberg, and the forttine-Programme of the University Ttibingen.

SS-17-02

7-year follow-up investigations and comparison of the geriatric psychiatric inpatient service in a separated care at a state hospital and an integrated care at a university hospital in Goettingen, Germany

G. Stoppe. Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH, Basel, Switzerland

SS-17-03

Geriatric psychiatry and in-patients wards for treatment of the elderly in Romania

N. Tataru, Romania

Objective: Like in all countries in this part of the world, the geriatric psychiatry is still not enough represented. The number of professionals working in the field is still very low to satisfy the needs of care of elderly with mental disorders. Mental health services for the elderly. The elderly with acute and chronic mental disorders, as well as those with dementia, are taken care of both in psychiatric short and long-stay hospitals and in social services. The last ones are inadequately trained to care for these patients, being without professional staff qualified in social work or in geriatric psychiatry. In spite of the professionals' endeavor specializing in the teaching and training program, there exist only a few psychogeriatric services and less special care services for dementia patients.

Methods: Geriatric Psychiatry Ward in Nucet. The aspects of morbidity and mortality in Geriatric Psychiatry Unit in Nucet were studied since 1996 till in present.

Results: As a Long term unit for elderly, this ward offer the medical therapy, psychotherapy and occupational therapy, assessment of their disability, impairment and handicap.

Conclusion: The quality standards must be improved, especially those concerning elementary care needs and quality of life (accommodation, food, sheltered house, sheltered work places and community involvement). Today in Romania, in the care of mentally ill people we are trying to orient the mental services from the classical psychiatric hospitals towards the community care services.