In a population of 430 patients admitted on the long stay wards of a general psychiatric hospital 115 (27%) patients used medication because of upper gastrointestinal complaints and/or disease. The mean age of those using this medication was lower than of their fellow patients. The records of the 115 patients were investigated for diagnosis and diagnostic procedures. Non-specific dyspepsia and reflux oesophagitis were the most frequent diagnoses. Reflux oesophagitis and gastro-oesophageal reflux related diagnoses were present in 61 patients (14%). In 28 patients (6.5%) a reflux oesophagitis was diagnosed by endoscopy or x-ray in the past. 31 Patients (7.2%) had non-specific dyspepsia. A test for a Helicobacter pylori infection was indicated in 26 of the 115 patients because of chronic use of protonpumpinhibitors or a Helicobacter pylori related disease. The clinical relevance of the frequent use of medication for upper gastrointestinal disease and/or complaints in the psychiatric treatment is discussed.