Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:1047-1052
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Does community care for the mentally ill make a difference? A tale of two cities
M Beiser, JH Shore, R Peters and E Tatum
Matched groups of schizophrenic patients in Portland, Ore., and Vancouver,
B.C., were compared approximately 1 year following discharge from an index
hospitalization. Whereas Vancouver boasts a rich network of accessible
private services and a public mental health system that provides a model of
care for the chronically mentally ill, Portland's aftercare facilities at
the time of the study were limited. One year after discharge the Vancouver
cohort experienced fewer readmissions, was more apt to be employed, and
reported a higher level of well-being, all of which suggest that community
aftercare positively affects the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
