Two approaches to the management of long-term psychiatric outpatients in the community

In this study, it was predicted that over a two-year period chronically ill psychiatric outpatients treated in a nursing social support program would experience a lower rehospitalization rate; more days out of hospital; less treatment drop-out; a greater decrease in symptoms; fewer medication increases; a greater increase in socialization, occupation, and satisfaction with life situation; and show better care ratings than similar patients attending a medication clinic. Forty-seven medication-maintained patients were randomly assigned to treatment conditions. After two years of treatment, medication clinic patients had improved socialization and satisfaction with care ratings and lowered depression and agitation ratings. There were no group differences on other outcome criteria.