[Rehabilitation of psychiatric patients and mentally handicapped offenders--a long-term study (1969-1984)].

Described is a group of 40 mentally ill offenders, discharged from hospital an average 9 years ago. This group had been served for an average of two years at the rehabilitation department of the Karl-Bonhoeffer-Nervenklinik in Berlin, with the majority having been placed in insurable, performance-adapted outside employment and discharged home or into other appropriate living situations. A follow-up study was carried out in March 1984 concerning renewed delinquency, employment, financial and living situation. Two of the rehabilitees had committed some offence, which resulted in their conditional discharge being revoked. In 1984, 15 of the former clients were found to continue in insurable employment, 5 former patients had died in the intervening years. Some hypotheses are given to explain the successful outcomes attained.