Meeting community service needs of discharged psychiatric patients.
There is a growing recognition that the chronically mentally ill are a heterogeneous population with a multiplicity and diversity of needs. But inadequate information concerning the extent of the population service needs and the degree to which aftercare services meets these needs has contributed to the minimization of the problem. This article reports on the extent to which aftercare services meets the needs of discharged patients. Most discharged patients had a need for basic maintenance aftercare services such as individual counseling, chemotherapy, and financial assistance. However, there was also a high need for more rehabilitative services such as socialization services, social and vocational rehabilitation, and supportive residential services. Although almost half had their basic service needs met by aftercare services, few had their rehabilitative ones met.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000639:trends*; D003688:Deinstitutionalization / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000639:trends; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric