MENTAL DISORDER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 259, 2 August 1928, Page 12

MENTAL DISORDER

VALUE OF EARLY TREAT. MENT STATISTICS FOR PAST YEAR The importance of early treatment for cases of mental disorder is emphasised by the Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals (Dr. T. G. Gray) in his report to I’ii rliament. Dr. Gray states that recognition of that fact has resulted in an extension of outpatient clinics, whose functions are preventive as well as curative. "These clinics are doing excellent work in the main centres of New Zealand, and there has been a rapid and progressive increase in the number of consultations since their inception.” he adds. "Many cases, however, even iu the pre-certifiable stage, require observation and treatment of ft kind which involves residence in an institution, and in order to ensure success and overcome ingrained popular prejudice the accommodation provided for this purpose must be such as will not entail any association with patients of a degraded type. These requirements are being met in many countries by the erection of entirely detachedclinics of psychopathic hospitals, associated, as a rule, with general hospitals. In New Zealand we have tackled this problem iu a manner which in many ways is unique, and I am satisfied that we are doing so on sound lines. The reception cottages and neuropathic units established at the main -centres are meeting the demand for suitable accommodation for those early cases, and associated, as these already are at Porirua, with a treatment centre, the scheme is much more suited to the needs of our relatively small and scattered population than would be the erection of residential clinics of the types I have mentioned.” ; Returns for Year. Dealing with statistics, Dr. Grayxeports that the patients on the. register- at the.end of the. year numbered 5673 (males 3147, females 2526), or 206 (males-103, females 103) more than at the beginning.; and the daily average under treatment during the year was 5395 (males 3022, females 2373), or IS2 (males 96,. females S 6), more than, in the previous year, while the total under care was 6412. Patienls belonging to the Native race numbered 81 (males 42, females 39) at the end of the year. The admissions numbered 945 (males 531, females 4L-), or two less (males 23 more, and females 25 less) than in the previous year. Or these, 163 had been previously linger care, making the proportion of readmissions 17.25 per cent., and 782 patients (including 15 Maoris) were admitted'for the first time. The ratio to population of all admisisons (exclusive of Maoris) was 6.74 (males 7.42, females 6.03), to 10,000, and of first admisions, 5.58 (males 6.17, females 4.96), so that 1482 persons in the general population contributed one patient, and 1792 contributed a patient admitted for the first time. The discharges (excluding transfers) number; ed 390, or 7 more than m 1926. 10a (or 3 more) harmless unrecovered persons were returned to the care of friends, and 255 (males 157, females 128). recovered—4 more than last year, representing a percentage of 30.16' .(males 29 56, females 30.91) on the total admitted. With voluntary boarders added, the percentage rises to 36.60. Altogether, 45 79 per cent of the inmates admitted were able to leave institutional care. Of a total of 6412 patients under care. 349 (males 217, females 132). died, or 6.47 per cent, on the average number resident. The following is the percentage of causes mainly contributing to death: Senile decay, 24.63; disease of the- brain and nervous system group, 24.63; heartdisease, 12.C0; tuberculosis, 6.19. Position at Porirua. At Porirua Mental Hospital on January 1, there were 1322 patients on'the register (723 males, 599 females). . At the end of the year there were 140 S patients (762 males, 646 females). The total admissions for the year were 291 (158 males, 133 females), and the total discharged recovered were 97 (50 males, 47 females). The total under care during the vear was 1613, and the number died was 81. The principal cause of death was senile decay. At the beginning of the year there were 5S voluntary boarders (27 males, 31 females), and;at the end of the year 67 (27- males, 40 females). The total of voluntary boarders admitted was 37, readmitted 26, discharged 47, committed 2, and died 5.,