Treatment outcome in a private-sector residential care program

The treatment outcomes of 60 chronic mentally ill patients who received services at Community Care, a private-sector residential care program, were analyzed. In addition to psychiatric services, the program offers instruction in living skills and vocational preparation, helps patients find jobs and housing, and operates an outpatient support network. Forty-two percent of the patients discharged during the study period achieved independence or near independence in the program and functioned at that level during a three-year follow-up period. Patients' level of education, degree of participation in the program, levels of residential and vocational achievement at discharge, and discharge status were significantly related to outcome. Patients with good participation in the program who stayed with the outpatient support network at discharge had at least a 95 percent probability of good outcome.