The Scottish survey of new chronic in-patients: five-year follow-up

Patients aged 18-64 years, in hospital more than one but less than six years, were followed up five years after identification: 22% had died, 50% remained in-patients, and 28% had been discharged; only 10% of first admissions with organic brain disease had left hospital. Of those discharged, 37% had no contact with after-care services. Of those remaining in hospital, 39% did not require in-patient care. Patients' level of functioning had improved over the five years.