Clinic versus private treatment of psychosis.

Thirty patients with a hospital diagnosis of schizophrenia were randomly assigned upon discharge to either 1) a specialized aftercare clinic of 2) to private psychiatrists. At the end of six months, the clinic patients had spent significantly less time as hospital readmissions and were significantly more occupied (i.e. employed or in school) than the private patients. It seems possible that attendance at clinic provides group pressure to maintain drug compliance and may thus work to reduce rehospitalization. It is also likely that the network of clinic paramedical and volunteer staff, by its flexibility and availability, aids the patient's transition into employment.