Discharge of patients to full-time institutional settings. Results of a survey. Postscript for part III of the Berlin deinstitutionalization study

Purpose: 42 percent long-term patients from the Berlin Deinstitutionalizati on Study sample have been discharged to full-time institutional settings, Methods: The questionnaires of a mail-survey covered features of 58 differe nt non-hospital full-time Institutional settings and care for a group of 12 5 long-term mental patients, Results: The return rate was more than 70 percent. For 78 percent of the di scharged former long-term Inpatients the political goal of complete psychia tric care in the patient's home area has been reached, hut only 20 percent live In smaller institutions of up to 40 places. Conclusions: The significance of other data of the survey does not exceed t hat of stock-taking and certain indications because of the selective data a nd the limitations of the method. There is an urgent need for further resea rch in examining the quality of non-hospital institutional care for psychia tric long-term patients.