A study of a publicly funded mental health system determined that the
use of aftercare services by discharged patients had the effect of
extending community tenure. Patients' clinical characteristics,
particularly number of previous hospitalizations, had only minimal effect
and patients' demographic characteristics had essentially no impact on
community tenure. Increasing the variety and intensity of
rehabilitation-oriented types of service rather than increasing the
frequency of supportive contacts through individual therapy and case
management appears to hold the greatest promise for extending community
tenure.Abstract Teaser