Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 June 2014
A review was made of the case notes of all patients admitted to the Psychiatric unit of an East London teaching hospital in 1975, 1980 and 1985. Over the ten year period, the total number of admissions showed little change. In contrast, admissions associated with substance dependence tripled, and those related to substance induced organic mental disorder increased sevenfold. These findings suggest that psychiatrists in acute units should be on the alert to detect cases of psychiatric disorder complicated by substance misuse.