THE EFFICACY OF A PSYCHIATRIC HALFWAY HOUSE - A STUDY OF HOSPITAL RECIDIVISM AND GLOBAL OUTCOME MEASURE

The authors investigated the post-halfway house outcome of a sample of 41 former residents of the halfway house of the Department of Psychia try, Athens University. Two criteria were used: hospital recidivism an d global ratings of outcome (which was assessed on the basis of three parameters: rehospitalization, employment and independent living). Mea n duration from the time of departure was 32 months (range: 8-52 month s). Within this period good outcome and non-recidivism were related wi th compliance to pharmacotherapy. Most recidivists also had a shorter stay in the halfway house and cases with successful outcome tended to be evaluated higher on the ''Behaviour in Halfway House Scale'' at the end of the residency.