[Dehospitalization of the San Clemente psychiatric hospital in Venice]

The study presented herewith is part of a more comprehensive research work dealing mainly with the de-hospitalisation of the psychiatric hospital San Clemente in Venice since the change in psychiatric care effected by law, and with analysing the present situation of psychiatric care. The article reports on the highlights of this study during the investigated period from 1978 to 1984. The different types of care implemented in Venice are described on a structural plane with reporting on relevant data describing the activities. The importance of the centro di salute mentale = CSM within the Italian psychiatric care scheme is emphasised. Emptying of the psychiatric hospital San Clemente in Venice between 1978 and 1984 was observed systematically. The results show that the decrease in the number of patients of the psychiatric hospital during the period under observation was mainly achieved by genuine discharges. The majority of discharge patients (62%) return to their families, occupy a flat of their own or in residential community with other ex-patients. Transfers to other institutions were effected in exceptional cases only (e.g. home for the blind) (total percentage 4%). Analyses of the quality of life shows the limitations of reintegration of ex-patients. Only few ex-patients have so far succeeded in building up a perceptive for the future: the most marked time dimension is the past. Contrary to the often-lamented neglect of patients after their discharge, our data show that almost 90% of all 138 discharged ex-patients whom we interviewed, have been maintaining contacts to the psychiatric service offices.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)