Related Experiment Videos
Deinstitutionalisation for long-term mental illness: a 2-year clinical evaluation
1Department of Psychological Medicine, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia. chob9793@mail.usyd.edu.au
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
|July 6, 2000
Summary
Deinstitutionalisation in Sydney improved psychotic symptoms and life satisfaction for long-term psychiatric patients in community residences. Continued support is vital for successful community living and reduced hospital readmissions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Mental Health Services Research
- Social Psychiatry
Background:
- Closure of a long-stay psychiatric hospital in Sydney led to deinstitutionalisation.
- Forty long-term patients were transferred to community residences with 24-hour support and services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the clinical progress of patients relocated to community residences over a 2-year period.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of deinstitutionalisation with community support.
Main Methods:
- Quasi-experimental longitudinal design over 2 years.
- Utilized Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Life Skills Profile, Social Behaviour Scale, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and Quality of Life measures.
- Collected data on readmissions, demographics, case history, and medication.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in psychotic symptoms and increased life satisfaction observed in 35 residents over 2 years.
- No significant changes in living skills, depressive symptoms, or social behaviour, indicating a need for ongoing support.
- 37% of residents required temporary hospital readmission during the study period.
Conclusions:
- Deinstitutionalisation is clinically effective when integrated with robust community mental health resources.
- Community residences with adequate support facilitate positive clinical outcomes for long-term psychiatric patients.