An analysis of individual treatment on a token economy for chronic schizophrenic patients.

Fifty-one individually designed treatment programmes carried out over a 22 month period on a token economy ward for 12 female chronic schizophrenic patients were analysed. Level of withdrawal was found to be a critical factor in patients' response, both in terms of the rate and extent of improvement during the treatment stage, and presence or absence of deterioration during 'weaning' and follow up. No difference in response between type of behavioural problem and methods of treatment or weaning were found.