A quality of life study of discharged long-term psychiatric patients.

A survey of 48 discharged long-stay patients was carried out. The purpose of the survey was to identify the patients' perceptions of: (a) the preparation given to them in the rehabilitation wards prior to discharge; (b) the quality of their life in the community; (c) the care given by the community psychiatric nurses. A structured interview was conducted in the ex-patient's own home and objective measures of quality of life were also used. Most patients felt that they were well prepared for discharge. More received skills training then received health education. Every respondent (48, 100%) preferred living in the community to being in a psychiatric hospital. Most respondents (46, 95%) were satisfied with life in general. Twenty-eight were visited by community psychiatric nurses and 24 (85%) were satisfied with the care given.