DEINSTITUTIONALIZATION OF THE SEVERELY ME NTALLY-RETARDED - IMPACT ONTHE PRESCRIPTION OF NEUROLEPTIC DRUGS

The neuroleptic medication prescribed over a period of 12 years for th ree groups of severely developmentally handicapped patients is analyze d retrospectively. The average daily doses prescribed for two groups o f patients, deinstitutionalized either to foster homes or group homes, are compared to those prescribed for a third group of patients who we re not deinstitutionalized. The results show that deinstitutionalizati on had no impact on the prescribing of neuroleptics, regardless of the type of residence: group home or foster home. The results show, moreo ver, that for the three groups of patients, time spent without medicat ion decreased significantly over the 12 years of this study. These res ults are discussed in relation to the problem of the patients' social reintegration into the community.