Deinstitutionalization of long-stay psychiatric patients in upper Austria -: Living situation, social and clinical characteristics more than one year after discharge

Objective: In Upper Austria, a total of 409 long-stay patients were discharged to various residential facilities between 1995 and 2000. This paper describes psychopathology and sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A random sample of 116 former long-stay patients were followed for an average 42.9 months after discharge. Results: Patients had spent an average 19.3 years in psychiatric wards. 47 patients (40.5%) were placed in nursing homes, 16 patients (13.8%) in old-age homes, 32 patients (27.6%) in other institutions and only 15 patients (12.9%) in group homes, and 6 patients (5.2%) with families. ICD-10 diagnosis was schizophrenia in 56 patients (48.3%) and mental retardation in 33 patients (28.4%). Level of social and functional disabilities was high. Conclusions: Most long-stay patients were able to live outside psychiatric hospitals, but institutional care still plays an essential role.