Epidemiological issues have an special interest among gerontopsychiaty, because of the high prevalence of mental disorders and the increasing average age of the population. According to the National Statistic Institute in Spain, in 2002 almost 7 million of the people were over 65 years old and in 2020 there is expected to be 8 million of elder people. This question associated with the decrease of birthrate, will bring about a rise in the absolut number of elder people with a mental disorder.

Our main objective in this work is to study the sociodemographil profile of inpatients over 60years old in a short stay unit.

This is a prospective, descriptive study. We have collected sociodemographical and clinical characteristics of people over 60 years old that entered short stay units of two hospitals in Vizcaya, Spain, during one year. Patients with dementia were excluded.

60 patients entered the units. The average age was 71,2 (7,26). Education; illiterate 6,6%; just read and write 46,6%; primary/elementary education 38,3%; secondary education 3,33% and higher education 5%. Marital status: single 10%; married 51,6%; divorced 8,3%; widow/er 30%. Family life: 31,6% alone; 28,33% with a paretner; 21,66% with a partner and some else; 13,33%, with their children with a partner; 3,33% old people's home.Social relationship: 5% without any relation; 25% family and neighbours; 31,6% family, neigbours and frienda; 3,33% people in the old people's home.

It is assumed to be important to know the characteristics of this people to guarantee an optimum assistance.