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Rehabilitation of the Institutionalized Patient: Description of a Programme and Follow-up of 60 Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

G. H. B. Baker
Affiliation:
Westminster Hospital and Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton (formerly at Long Grove Hospital, Epsom)
T. J. Woods
Affiliation:
Long Grove Hospital, Epsom
J. A. Anderson
Affiliation:
Long Grove Hospital and the London Borough of Hackney

Summary

The programme in an intensive rehabilitation unit in a large psychiatric hospital is described. Features include the use of non-medical staff as primary therapists, the use of a mini-bus to facilitate regular visits by patients to their home areas, the inclusion of the mini-bus driver on weekly staff conferences, the use of sociodrama, the re-organization of hospital money payments to patients, the promotion of relations with community-based facilities through occasional ‘teach-in’ days, and a special liaison social worker providing intensive follow-up after discharge. Rehabilitation was prolonged (average stay about one year) and about half of those selected for rehabilitation from the long-stay wards were discharged. Follow-up showed that these patients benefited from discharge, in spite of a relatively high incidence of psychopathology and of social problems. Those transferred back to long-stay wards showed increased institutionalization.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1977 

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References

Baker, G. H. B. & Wood, P.J. (1973) International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 19, 270.Google Scholar
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Birley, J. L. T. & Brown, G. W. (1970) British Journal of Psychiatry, 116, 327–33.Google Scholar
Cumming, J. & Cumming, E. (1962) Ego and Milieu. Atherton Press.Google Scholar
Shuttleworth, R. E. (1973) Self and Society, 1 (4), 7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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