A feasibility study is presented which describes a cohort of 102 chronic psychiatric patients. The cases were selected on the criterion of four or more new admissions to psychiatric services in the Hamilton-Wentworth region during the year 1977. The group was predominately in the age 20–39 year range and both sexes were represented about equally. The diagnostic labels were personality ‘ disorder, schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism in descending order of frequency. The large majority were socially isolated and had contact with social agencies and the police. Seven deaths occurred in the cohort during the year of study.
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