Dimensions of social adjustment following psychiatric hospitalization: a six-month follow-up study

This study describes a prospective six-month follow-up study of previously hospitalized psychiatric patients. Data are presented on social functioning and symptomatology derived from self-report scales administered to 60 patients. there was significant improvement in both symptomatology and social functioning on follow-up for all groups with the exception of the schizophrenic group, who exhibited little or no change. Residual change scores revealed more than expected change in 71 percent of schizophreniform patients, 70 percent of nondepressed patients, 53 percent of depressed patients, but only 20 percent of schizophrenic patients. These findings suggest that most patients sustain improvement after discharge and that many schizophreniform patients may have good prognoses.