A multivariate analysis of mental hospital recidivism.

This study identifies health problems, instrumental activities of daily living, employment status, and number of previous admissions as significant factors of recidivism to a mental health residential facility. The study, conducted over a 5-year period, includes measures on 32 predictor variables collected either on admission, on discharge, or 12-15 months following discharge or on readmission. The study's results are interpreted in light of current changes in the mental health service delivery system including the interactive role of physical and mental illnesses, expanding access to community-based generic services, focusing on functional skills and their development or remediation, and the changing criteria for measuring mental health effectiveness.