Comparison of the nutritional state of new and long-term patients in a psychogeriatric unit.

Nutritional deficiencies have been implicated in the pathophysiology of various mental disorders. Life in institutions has been associated with development of nutritional deficiencies, the elderly being most at risk especially those with senile dementia. In this study nutritional status, particularly vitamin and essential mineral status was assessed in a group of 64 new admissions to a psychogeriatric unit and 49 long-term patients. The results indicated that psychogeriatric patients were at risk of experiencing nutritional deficiencies and those with senile dementia were likely to have more abnormalities than those with functional illnesses. Those patients in long-term care would appear to have a better nutritional state than those on admission.