[Discharged, but where to? The Current Situation of Long Stay Patients in German Psychiatric Clinics].

Objective: The study analyses the number, characteristics and reasons for a length of stay of patients in German psychiatric clinics in excess of 6 months.

Methods: The study was implemented in the form of a nationwide online survey, which was addressed to chief physicians of psychiatric clinics.

Results: In the sample, 174 patients in 80 psychiatric clinics were identified who could not be discharged because no suitable follow-up services were available in the region. The majority of patients are male, often have an F2 diagnosis and exhibit aggressive behaviour during their hospital stay.

Conclusion: To avoid inappropriate health care and prevent prolonged stays for a subgroup of mentally ill people, individual complex services should be implemented in community psychiatry.