Schizophrenia. A comparative trial of community orientated and hospital orientated psychiatric care.

Sixty-five schizophrenic patients presenting for admission were randomly allocated into two groups. Control patients received standard hospital care and after-care. Experimental patients were not admitted if this could be avoided; instead they were taken back to the community by the Community Treatment Team who provided them and their relatives with comprehensive community treatment and a 24-h crisis service. During the 12 months study period 68% of the schizophrenic patients in the experimental group were not admitted; 10% were admitted two or more times and for 5 weeks or longer. All the schizophrenic patients in the control group were admitted--two-thirds or more times and for 5 weeks or longer. It was feasible to treat most schizophrenic patients in the community. Community treatment was considered by patients and their relatives to be the more satisfactory and helpful form of treatment and achieved a superior clinical outcome.