DISABILITY PENSIONS IN SEVERELY DISTURBED INPATIENT ADOLESCENTS - 20-YEAR PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Background Knowledge of working capacity from adolescence until adulth ood among severely disturbed in-patients is scarce. Method In a follow -up study of 61 adolescent in-patients, we studied associations betwee n being on a disability pension 20 years after hospitalisation, and th e patients' psychopathology and treatment-related factors during the h ospitalisation and seven-year follow-up. Results Of the former in-pati ents, 27% had not been on a disability pension, 20% had short-term pen sion periods, and 53% were pensioned. Subjects whose overall psychosoc ial functioning had improved and who had not utilised in-patient servi ces until the seven-year follow-up, had a better prognosis in terms of working capacity. Half of the subjects who had not been on pension du ring the follow-up had received a diagnosis of conduct disorder at dis charge, and half of those pensioned had a psychotic disorder. Conclusi ons The patients' level of psychosocial functioning and capability to work in young adulthood were associated with long-term prognosis in te rms of working capacity. Adolescence seems to be the critical time for intensive psychiatric care combined with vocational rehabilitation pr ogrammes.