The Psychology Department of Southmead Health Authority has completed a register of its mental handicap unit population for two years. TheWessex Mental Handicap Assessment(used in 1983) and theDevelopment Team for the Mentally Handicapped (DTMH) Assessment(used in 1984) have provided a wide range of information useful to and requested by people working within the respective hospitals and hostels. The register has identified need and played a role in future planning. The use of a micro computer has made its information easily accessible.While it is appreciated that a large scale survey can only produce results of uncertain accuracy, it is considered that theBehavioural problemquestions in theDTMH Assessmentare not comprehensive enough. People with problems that might broadly be called “psychiatric” are not identified, which consequently underestimates the amount of staff support needed. A possible modification is suggested which could help to overcome t