Abstract

All inpatients discharged in 1967 from a comprehensive department of psychological medicine who were referred for aftercare visiting by a mental welfare officer or psychiatric social worker were reviewed after a period of three years. Over this period half the patients had not been readmitted and only 6·3% of those below retirement age had been unemployed for 75% or more of the total time involved. Altogether 76% were assessed as socially integrated, though there had been a drift away from living at home.

It is probable that case conferences made the process of referral for aftercare more discriminating and that the follow up conferences contributed substantially towards the care, supervision, and maintenance of these patients in the community. Measures of this kind are essential if a general hospital psychiatric service is intended to cope with the total problem involved.