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Pica as a cause of death in three mentally handicapped men.

Pica as a cause of death in three mentally handicapped men.

Authors :
McLoughlin, I.J.
Source :
British Journal of Psychiatry; Jun88, Vol. 152, p842-845, 4p
Publication Year :
1988

Abstract

In Prudhoe Hospital, a large mental-handicap hospital of 1000 residents, it was found that of the 94 deaths that occurred between 1982 and 1986, three were closely associated with the habit of pica. These deaths occurred in severely and profoundly handicapped males, whose average age was 32, compared with an average age of death of 58 for the combined groups of severely and profoundly mentally handicapped patients (22 cases), and an average age of death of 60 for all degrees of handicap (94 cases). It seems likely that the habit of pica constitutes a cause of considerable morbidity and mortality in certain institutionalised patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00071250
Volume :
152
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
British Journal of Psychiatry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
24830955
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.152.6.842