A 12-month follow-up study of people with dementia referred to general hospital liaison psychiatry services

Background: new services for patients with dementia in general hospitals are being widely developed. Little is known of outcomes after hospital for such patients. Objective: to establish outcomes for patients with dementia referred to general hospital psychiatric services. Design: prospective cohort study. Setting: two UK general hospitals. Subjects: referrals with dementia to liaison psychiatric services. Method: eligible referrals (n = 112), and their carers, were assessed during admission, and at 6 and 12 months, using battery of health measurements. Results: mortality at 6 months was 31% and at 12 months 40%. At baseline, 13% lived in a care home, rising to 84% by 6 months. Quality of life scores remained stable over 12 months, while carer stress fell significantly. Baseline clinical and demographic variables did not predict quality of life or carer stress at 6 and 12 months. Conclusions: dementia liaison services in general hospitals currently focus on poor outcome cases.