The effectiveness of a psychosocial rehabilitation program in preventing
further hospitalization among a group of hospitalized severely mentally ill
homeless persons in Israel was evaluated. The program includes inpatient
and community residential phases designed to help the participants
gradually become more independent. All clients (N = 98) discharged from the
inpatient phases to supervised or independent community residences since
1982 were followed until December 31, 1992, to determine changes in
hospitalization rates. The average follow-up time was six years. The
percentage of time clients were hospitalized dropped from 64.9 percent
before discharge to the community residences to 12 percent between
discharge and follow-up.
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