An examination of variation in long-term community tenure after psychiatric hospitalization in eight states

The influence of seven personal and clinical characteristics on the community tenure of discharged state hospital patients in eight states is analyzed and discussed. Previous admission to a state hospital and a diagnosis of schizophrenia were associated with shorter community tenure. Older patients had longer community tenure than younger These findings were consistent across the states and are consistent with previous work that focused on much narrower populations. The relationship of these risk factors to community tenure are discussed from an individualistic perspective, a treatment oriented perspective, and a community integrationist perspective, and implications for further research are explored.