RESUMEN
A total of 295 patients, 152 women and 143 men, aged 18-70 years, were admitted to a psychiatric department during a period of three months. They were interviewed about their occupational conditions, the background for admission and help desired. Thirty-three women and 66 men were unemployed and half of these had been unemployed for over one year. The unemployed patients stated that misuse of alcohol or medicine was the reason for admission more frequently than the remainder of the patients. Half of the patients stated that unemployment contributed to admission to hospital but only 6% stated that this was the primary cause. Unemployed men desired employment most of all whereas the women desired improved social network. Three case reports are presented to illustrate the interaction between unemployment, stress at work and vulnerability and these illustrate the significances of the individuals factors for the nature of the relevant suitable help.
