Do long-term hospitalised patients benefit from discharge into the community?

Objective: The study investigated whether long-stay patients would benefit from discharge into the community in Berlin, Germany.

Method: In a prospective controlled study, all long-term hospitalised psychiatric patients from a defined catchment area were assessed using established standardised instruments. Quality of life, treatment satisfaction, needs and psychopathology were re-assessed in 63 non-discharged patients 1.