Psychiatric Hospitalization of Adolescents and Successful Mainstream Reentry

Abstract

Eighty-eight adolescent patients of a state mental hospital were followed up 6 months after discharge. Within that period, 43% had been rehospitalized. The major differences between the recidivist and nonrecidivist groups were that, of those who were successful in staying in the mainstream, more returned to school, more had at least one biological parent in the home, fewer had had a significant family member hospitalized, and they had shorter hospitalizations prior to discharge. Type and severity of psychopathology, and personal and demographic variables did not differentiate between the two groups. A natural history of chronic hospitalization is posited and the potential of education to interrupt the rehospitalization “revolving door” is discussed.