title: Toward a public policy on the chronic mentally ill patient.
abstract: This paper outlines the problems posed by the chronic mentally ill, which have become a national disgrace. The historical background of deinstitutionalization is reviewed, issues critical to an understanding of the problems of the chronic mental patient are examined, solutions are suggested, and a public policy on the chronic mental patient is proposed.
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003688:Deinstitutionalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D011640:Public Policy; D012917:Social Adjustment