Was it a good move? Improvement in quality of life among chronic mental patients moving from a mental hospital to a hostel in the community.

Background: This study examined whether transition from hospital to hostel improves patients' quality of life (QOL).

Method: In a longitudinal prospective study comparing the QOL of 16 patients who moved to a hostel with that of 20 who remained hospitalized, we posited that the former would exhibit improved QOL. We also assessed the reliability of psychiatric patients' reports by comparing them with staff reports.