To compare the clinical and sociodemographic profiles of patients discharged from the specialized wards of 'Mood Disorders and OCD” and &Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorders” with the diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder (BD), and of Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorders (SSD)

To improve the quality of services provided, by implementing specialized programs adapted to the specific characteristics and needs of these patients.

Retrospective analysis of patients’ clinical charts, discharged from two specialized wards at Lisbon’s Psychiatric Hospitalar Centre, with a diagnosis of BD or SSD according to the ICD-10, during the first six months after the implementation of these services, in October 2013. The statistical analysis was performed with SPSS.

During the six month period 230 patients were discharged (BD, n=130; SSD, n= 100).

Compared to BD patients, SSD patients were predominantly male, younger, unemployed, with a lower educational level, and had an earlier onset of the disease. They also had a longer length of stay and were more commonly admitted on a compulsory regimen.

There were no statistically significant differences regarding disease duration between the two groups.

In BD patients we found a positive correlation between age and length of hospital stay.

Our sample shows statistically significant differences regarding demographic and social features between BD and SSD patients. Thus, our hospital’s recent specialization is being accompanied by specialized treatment strategies, which are already ongoing and should be the subject of evaluation in the near future.