Cognition Levels of Attendants of Patients with an acute relapse of Psychosis - Differences Immediately Prior to and Post Admission.

Background - Mental illness in a family member has an adverse impact on overall wellbeing of other caregivers. Aims - To study the cognition level of attendants of acutely relapsed psychotic patients. Methods - Two matched groups of 30 attendants each ,of acutely relapsed psychotic patients, who differed on admission status of their patients were administered MMSE and their cognition levels were compared. Results - Cognition level of attendants of acutely relapsed psychotic patients was found to be lower than that of the general population. 40% of attendants awaiting admission and 7% of attendants who had their wards admitted had at least mild cognitive deficit. Further, a likelihood of lower cognition level in attendants awaiting admission as compared to attendants who had had their wards admitted was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion - Attendants of acutely relapsed psychotic patients have a lower cognition level prior to admission and this fact may have implications on deciding the ideal time to obtain history from the attendants and to give them advice and instructions on patient care.

Riesgo laboral y patología psiquiátrica del personal de un servicio de psiquiatría / Labour risk and psychiatric pathology in a psychiatric service staff

En el servicio de psiquiatría de Concepción,se realizó un estudio descriptivo, aplicándose una encuesta y examen psiquiátrico a la totalidad de los funcionarios no profesionales, durante el mes de agosto de 1984. Como resultado se encontró que el 94,4% de los funcionarios, había recibido algún tipo de agresión, un 8,3% de alcoholismo, consumo de tranquilizantes en el 52,8%. El antecedente de enfermedad psicosomática se encontró en el 41,6%. La prevalencia de neurosis fue de un 30,5%. En nuestra opinión, el ambiente estresante sería responsable de estos índices y es aconsejable efectuar estudios similares para poder determinar en forma fehaciente, la existencia de riesgo de enfermar psíquicamente y los factores que lo están condicionando en el trabajo con pacientes psiquiátricos