We reviewed 564 consecutive psychiatric inpatient admissions. In support of previous studies, we found 51.9% to have significant medical disorders, nearly half of them “new” or previously unsuspected. Women, the elderly, substance abusers, and patients with nonschizophrenic functional psychoses had a higher prevalence of medical disorders. Using this information as a starting point, further work should be done to define a profile of the psychiatric patients at highest risk for medical illnesses. © 1987 Southern Medical Association.