Patterns of use of a mental handicap register in its first 5 years.

After its first 5 years in full operation, the requests for information made to a mental handicap register were examined. It was found that the register had been used extensively by a large number of people requesting a variety of information, both statistical and personal, relating to groups and individuals, and used both to gain an increased understanding of the present situation and to plan for change. Questionnaires sent to those people who had used the register in the first 6 months of 1985 revealed a high level of satisfaction with the register's ability to provide the information they requested. The uses and limitations of the register are discussed.