Assessment procedures used in studies on long-stay patients: a survey of papers published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Every article published in the British Journal of Psychiatry between 1945 and 1974 was reviewed that provided original information derived from the direct assessment of long-stay patients. The 225 articles were examined for details of assessment practice and characteristics of the patients studied. Most studies used a very restricted range of assessment methods, with rating scales, used most frequently. Many used wholly unstandardized methods, and the description of patient characteristics was inadequate. A number of improvements in assessment practice are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]