Long-stay patients discharged from psychiatric hospitals. Social and clinical outcomes after five years in the community. The TAPS Project 46.
BACKGROUND
There have been no large-scale prospective studies evaluating the transfer of care from psychiatric hospitals to district-based services.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to compare the quality of life of patients in two north London hospitals scheduled for closure with that in the community homes to which they were discharged.


METHODS
The total long-stay population of Friern Hospital and several hundred long-stay patients in Claybury Hospital were assessed with a batch of eight schedules while in hospital. They were followed up after one year in the community and then at five years.


RESULTS
Of the 670 discharged patients, 126 died before the five-year follow-up. Data were obtained on 523 (97%) of the survivors. There was no change in the patients' clinical state or in their problems of social behaviour. However, they gained domestic and community living skills. They also acquired friends and confidants. They were living in much freer conditions and the great majority wanted to remain in their current homes.


CONCLUSIONS
Community care has enhanced the quality of life of this group of patients, involved in a well-planned and adequately resourced reprovision programme.
Leff
J
J
Institute of Psychiatry, London.
Trieman
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005610:Freedom; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life