A descriptive study of patients going 'absent without leave' from Lentegeur Hospital (April 1992-November 1992)

Abstract

This study provides a descriptive profile of psychiatric patients who had gone ‘Absent Without Leave'(AWOL) from Lentegeur Hospital over an 8-month period from April to November 1992. The clinical sample comprised 93 in-patients (83 males, l0 females) ranging in age from 14-57 years. A survey was conducted in order to gather standardized information. Results revealed that the majority of patients who had gone AWOL were young, single, unemployed, urban males with a low level of education. Most of them had been admitted involuntarily, and sported a history of several previous admissions coupled with a history of AWOL. Many had requested discharge prior to leaving, whilst only a few were due for discharge. The Police were more often than not, involved in returning these patients to hospital.