Effects of extended hospitalization: a one-year follow-up study.

The C. F. Menninger Memorial Hospital is conducting an ongoing follow-up study of the effects of extended hospitalization. The authors report key indicators of outcome at one year postdischarge for 110 patients hospitalized on extended care units for at least 180 days. Outcome is determined by postdischarge rates of rehospitalization, postdischarge suicide attempts, and occupational functioning at the time of the one-year follow-up interview. After comparing these areas with preadmission levels of symptomatology and functioning, the authors report significant improvement in each category at the time of follow-up.