This work aimed to defining and studying the clinical characteristics of long term admitted psychiatric patients in Helwan Mental Health Hospital and search factors that interfere with their discharge. The study included all compatible patients of different DSM-IV psychiatric disorders who are admitted at "Helwan mental health hospital" for more than one year. Diagnostic criteria of DSM-IV modified FACE profile, the socio-Economic Status Scale of the Family, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Social Behavior Schedule. The results of the study revealed that long-stay patients who stayed more than one year were more females than males, coming mainly from urban areas, most of patients were illiterate or only read and write and most of them were not working, most of these patients were of low socio-economic level. The most frequent diagnoses of these patients was schizophrenia undifferentiated type, majority of cases were voluntarily admitted. Some of these patients were risky to self and others, positive symptoms were the more frequent and social abilities of the patients were impaired. The study concluded that long stay patients were more female, mostly of low socioeconomic status, some of them were risky to self and others, positive symptoms were the most frequent and social abilities of the patients were impaired.