Source : Psychiatric inpatient statistics (SMR04)

Data for individual patients are collected by ISD Scotland as a series of Scottish Morbidity Records (SMR).

The SMR datasets constitute a significant local and national information resource, and are used for epidemiological monitoring, health needs assessment, national and local planning and a range of other applications.

Data contains information on admissions to and discharges from mental illness hospitals and psychiatric units (in general hospitals); but exclude admissions to and discharges from the State Hospital at Carstairs. These statistics are derived from data collected through the mental health inpatient and day case return (SMR04) which records information at admission and discharge. On the SMR04 form, up to six seperate diagnoses can be recorded on discharge. A diagnosis in the first position is the principal diagnosis on discharge. A diagnosis 'in any position', refers to the occurence of a diagnosis in any of the six positions (including first and supplementary).

Figures for all admissions, re-admissions and discharges relate to the number of episodes, not to the number of individual patients admitted or discharged. First admissions relate to first ever admissions to a mental illness hospital or psychiatric unit, and therefore approximate to the number of people. It is also important to note that re-admissions will include patients who have returned for treatment after a long period of time, as well as those who have been diagnosed after a short interval.

Diagnosis is recorded on both the admission and the discharge part of the record and diagnosis on discharge may differ from diagnosis on admission. The tables presented here are based on diagnosis on discharge. This, in part, accounts for any differences between the figures published here, and those published in the previous editions of Drugs Misuse Statistics Scotland. Further differences will reflect an increased completeness of records received from a number of health board areas

The introduction of the 10thRevision of the International Classification of Diseases in April 1996 has resulted in considerable changes to the classification of certain mental and behavioural disorders and, as a result, it is not possible to make direct comparisons at the level of diagnostic groups before and after this date. Consequently, to avoid any possible confusion, trends in admissions to mental illness hospitals and psychiatric units by diagnosis are not shown in this edition of Drugs Misuse Statistics Scotland. Future editions may contain trends based on the new classification.

For further information contact: Scott Heald

Drug Misuse In Scotland 2001
This is an ISD Scotland National Statistics release

For further information please contact: Elaine Parry