Use of hospital services by chronic schizophrenics in the community

A sample of chronic schizophrenic patients from an urban community, living outside hospital, were reassessed on the Present State Examination one year after a first examination. During this time their use of psychiatric hospital services was recorded. One hundred and two patients had satisfactory interviews on both occasions. These could be divided into Heavy, Medium and Light users of services, the numbers being 8, 14 and 63 respectively, while 17 only saw their general practitioners or had no treatment. A ranking of the sample in terms of severity showed no correlation with use of these services; second PSE scores were not significantly different from the first. Heavy and Medium users of hospital services were in contact with Social Services to a significantly greater extent than other patients.