A Five-Year Outcome of Discharged Chronic Psychiatric Patients

Abstract

A five-year follow-up study was done on five hundred and eight chronic psychiatric patients, discharged from Saskatchewan Hospital, Weyburn in 1963, 1964 and 1965. One hundred and twenty-seven patients died during this period — 105 were over 65 years of age, with a mean age of 78 years, two patients had accidental deaths, and the rest died of normal causes. No patient committed suicide. Fifty-five per cent of the patients continually remained in the community during the five years. Forty-five per cent had one or more admissions and of these 74 per cent spent twelve months or less in the hospital. Fifty-four per cent were readmitted within twelve months after discharge. Twenty per cent of the patients under 65 years of age were employed full-time for forty-eight months or more. Two patients affected the social life of their family and one affected the health of the family. Continuity of care was provided to 80 per cent of the patients by the community mental health clinic. Chronic psychiatric patients can thus be kept in the community, causing minimum liability to the family and the community if continuity of care close to their residences is provided for them.