MedicineGeriatric MedicinePsychiatryAdult PsychiatryAutism Spectrum DisordersGeriatric PsychiatryInpatient Psychiatric CareMental IllnessPsychiatric DiagnosisPsychiatric EpidemiologyPsychotic DisordersSchizophrenia Spectrum DisordersAcute Psychiatric AssessmentAcute Psychiatric ManagementAdult Psychiatric ComorbidityElderly PopulationIndividuals With Mental IllnessInpatient Psychiatric AdmissionInpatient Treatment UtilizationPsychotic Disorders Diagnosis
Records of 247 inpatients with mental retardation or autism discharged from a university hospital during 62 consecutive months were examined with regard to acute inpatient treatment. The main finding was that elderly adults with mental retardation had significantly more medical problems than did adults. There was a trend toward significantly more elderly adults being transferred to a state hospital. An unexpected finding was that the most common diagnosis in both adults and elderly adults was chronic schizophrenia, paranoid type. Limitations of the study and possible explanations of the findings were discussed.