Original Article SMAD, Rev. Eletrônica Saúde Mental Álcool Drog. 9(1):33-40 Jan.-Apr. 2013 Correspondence Marcia Galan Perroca Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, Curso de Graduação em Enfermagem Av. Faria Lima, 5416 Bairro: São Pedro CEP: 15090-000, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brasil E-mail: marcia.perroca@famerp.br Long Term PsychiaTric insTiTuTion: ProfiLe of PaTienTs and human resource indicaTors This descriptive study aimed to investigate the social-demographic and epidemiological profile of patients and human resource indicators in a neuropsychiatric hospital located in southeastern Brazil. The data related to the human resources (2006-2010) and the social- demographic and epidemiological characterization of the patients (2010) were extracted from the hospital management system database and staff scheduling worksheets. The study included 105 patients with a mental disorder diagnosis. Most were male 60 (57.1%), mean age 52.5 (11.4) years, duration of hospitalization up to 15 years 84 (80%), and primary diagnosis of schizophrenia 50 (47.7%), and mental retardation 41 (39%). The nursing staff/bed ratio ranged from 0.52 to 1.15 and the nurse/bed from 0.05 to 0.11. The aim of this research is to contribute to the development of mental health policies and equip the administrator for the strategic decision making processes. Descriptors: Mentally Ill Persons; Psychiatric Nursing; Quality Indicators, Health Care. Maria Odete Pereira 1 Marli de Carvalho Jericó 2 Marcia Galan Perroca 3 Helena Ayako Mukai 4 1 PhD, Professor, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. 2 PhD, Professor, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. 3 PhD, Adjunct Professor, Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. 4 MSc, Professor, Centro Estadual de Educação Tecnológica Paula Souza, Lins, SP, Brazil.