[Perspectives after 55 years of psychiatric activity]

The author looks back over 55 years of psychiatric activity. It is pointed out that radical changes have taken place in the discharge practice of the psychiatric hospitals. The number of discharges with less than three months of stay in hospital have increased from 819 per year 1941-2 to 7881 in the years 1978-79, the number of beds being about the same. Although most of these discharges are re-admissions and therefore do not represent as many individuals, this means a drastic increase in the number of extramural patients. Many of them in a convalescent state. The resulting health problems demand a more active aftercare than is given today.