Am J Psychiatry 1989; 146:377-379
Copyright © 1989 by American Psychiatric Association
Adverse outcome of hip fractures in older schizophrenic patients
PE Yarden, MG Finkel, CS Raps and JJ Girvan
Northport VA Medical Center, Psychiatry Service, NY 11768.
The psychiatric and ambulatory course of 21 older chronic schizophrenic
patients who sustained hip fractures was studied prospectively, and their
walking ability after the fractures was compared to that of 25
nonpsychiatric hip fracture patients. Although the schizophrenic patients
were younger when the hip fractures occurred, their recuperation and
ambulatory outcome were significantly worse. The psychiatric course was
assessed with a standardized rating scale that was administered 6 months
and 1 year after the fractures and compared to similar ratings done before
the fractures. Significant mental deterioration was found at 6 months after
the fractures, with no further changes later.
