The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of patients attending psychiatric day care in an inner-urban catchment area were assessed using structured techniques. The overall prevalence of the use of day care was high (164 per 100 000 total population), and 86% of attenders were in prolonged psychiatric contact. Of those in prolonged contact, the clinical and social morbidity of 68 attenders at National Health Service day hospitals was strikingly similar to that of 42 attenders at other units. Users of a ‘community mental health centre’ and two work centres were less disabled than attenders at other day units. Implications of these results for the organisation of day services and training of staff are discussed.