Meeting community service needs of discharged psychiatric patients.

There is a growing recognition that the chronically mentally ill are a heterogeneous population with a multiplicity and diversity of needs. But inadequate information concerning the extent of the population service needs and the degree to which aftercare services meets these needs has contributed to the minimization of the problem. This article reports on the extent to which aftercare services meets the needs of discharged patients. Most discharged patients had a need for basic maintenance aftercare services such as individual counseling, chemotherapy, and financial assistance. However, there was also a high need for more rehabilitative services such as socialization services, social and vocational rehabilitation, and supportive residential services. Although almost half had their basic service needs met by aftercare services, few had their rehabilitative ones met.