[Full inpatient versus partial inpatient psychiatric after-care--a comparative retrospective study]

In a retrospective study 80 inpatients (Sociotherapy, Therapeutic Community) were compared to 160 outpatients (80 patient Day Clinic, 80 patients Night Clinic). With a mean treatment duration of 4-5 1/2 month a significant decrease was found for each group in the frequency and duration of further hospital admissions after end of therapy. Day and Night Clinic patients tending to a better outcome than the inpatients. Advantages of the Day and Night Clinic are seen e.g. in a higher degree of acceptance by patients and family doctors, disadvantages in the increased rate of suicide found in our sample.