[Reintegration in residential facilities--a catamnestic study]

Abstract

A rehabilitation programme at the University Clinic of Social Psychiatry, Berne, is described. The facility includes a half-way house and sheltered home in a suburb, where 20 psychiatric long-stay patients are trained for an independent life in the community. In a follow-up study 80 patients, mostly chronic schizophrenics, were examined in order to evaluate the outcome. After an average time-interval of 6 years only 14% were in a mental hospital, 31% lived in sheltered accommodations, and 55% lived independently in the community. 57% of the patients were working full- or part time and a further 20% worked in sheltered workshops. Apart from these very good results a careful assessment of the social circumstances reveals an ongoing impairment: 80% have only poor social relations and depend on psychiatric treatment and medication, 77% need invalidity rents and more than one third live or work in sheltered institutions. The study shows that psychiatric long-stay patients can reach a stable reintegration in the community. The ongoing impairment mainly affects the social relations and the financial resources, areas which are important for the quality of life.