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Effects of community placement on chronic mental patients
Author(s) -
Christenfeld Roger,
Toro Paul A.,
Brey Mary,
Haveliwala Yoosuf A.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
american journal of community psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.113
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1573-2770
pISSN - 0091-0562
DOI - 10.1007/bf00905725
Subject(s) - citation , columbia university , library science , center (category theory) , mental health , sociology , psychology , gerontology , media studies , medicine , psychiatry , computer science , crystallography , chemistry
Patients judged ready for release from a state mental hospital were interviewed to determine their levels of depression and psychosocial functioning. This interview was repeated for 31 of the patients 8 weeks after their release and simultaneously repeated for 31 similar patients who remained in the hospital. In comparison with the matched controls, released patients became less depressed, less socially isolated, and less irritable. No differential improvement was found in their self-image. These findings, controlled for certain potential biases in a quasi-experimental design, identify some specific benefits of community placement for chronic mental patients.