The Rehabilitation of Psychiatric Patients At an Industrial Therapy Unit Outside the Hospital

Abstract

A prospective study of all patients first attending the Birmingham Industrial Therapy Association Factory during the last 16 weeks of 1967 showed that 33 per cent were able to obtain open employment and 22.5 per cent were still employed six months later. Neurotic patients were successful more often than psychotic patients. Patients who were continuing to attend after twelve months were significantly older than those who found jobs. Assessment by a member of staff at one, three and six months, appears to provide a satisfactory means of predicting which patients will be placed in employment. If employment has not been obtained within twelve months it is unlikely that it will be achieved as a result of continued attendance. The rate at which long term attenders are accumulating suggests that there is a pressing need for more sheltered workshops for the chronic psychiatrically disabled.