Abstract
This follow-up report of 100 patients admitted to a mental hospital in Montreal showed that 73 patients were discharged, 16 patients died, and 11 patients were still in hospital 15 months after admission. The average duration of stay (first or only) of those who were discharged was 3.6 months; 36 patients who, prior to admission had been last treated at general hospitals with psychiatric in-patient services, stayed an average of only five days longer. Treatments in order of frequency employed were psycho-active drugs, occupational and work therapy, social service referral, psychotherapy, and E.C.T., (usually a combination of treatments was used). Post-discharge follow-up in the hospital After-Care Clinic usually was successful in preventing re-admission of co-operative schizophrenics, but not of manic-depressives and unco-operative schizophrenics.
It is concluded that regardless of what treatment patients receive prior to admission, the great majority do not require prolonged in-patient treatment, and that a modern mental hospital can provide effective treatment and rehabilitation services, not always fully available in general hospitals, even for short-term patients. Further comparative studies are indicated.