DEPENDENCE ON PUBLIC FINANCIAL-SUPPORT EARLY IN THE COURSE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA

Although most patients with schizophrenia rely on public financial sup port, little is known about how soon after the onset of illness such d ependence occurs. Forty-eight patients with schizophrenia were followe d for a mean of five years after their first hospitalization to examin e their reliance on public support, At one year after their first hosp italization, 27 subjects (56 percent) were primarily supported by soci al service agencies, Once such support was initiated, it was maintaine d throughout the entire follow-up period for all patients except two. The findings indicate that dependence on public financial assistance b egins very early in the course of illness for most hospitalized patien ts with schizophrenia.