THE SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENT AT HOME

120 schizophrenic patients, all first admissions to four different psychiatric units, were followed up for 4 years to assess their progress while their cases were managed largely extramurally and the patients lived mostly at home. They were found to spend little time in hospital, but only a few of them remained symtom-free throughout the follow-up period. In spite of that, a good many were able to work. The effect the patient has on the household to which he or she belongs is considerable in terms of loss of earnings, separations from children, frequent disturbing behaviour and so on. Nevertheless many families seem to be able to endure this without complaining unduly. They seem to be able to bear the burden easier if the psychiatric services are part of a general hospital rather than based on a mental hospital.