Group aftercare for chronic schizophrenia.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of group follow-up in the aftercare of chronic schizophrenia. Fifteen outpatient schizophrenics were reviewed to compare their rehospitalization rates and percentage of time spent in the community during a 2 year period of group aftercare with the 2 year per-group period. Rehospitalization rates were 0.2 admissions/patient year during the group therapy period versus 1.1 admissions/patient year during the pre-group period ( less than .001). Attendance compliance rates during the group therapy were 97%. The results suggest that for these patients, group therapy was an effective method of maintaining schizophrenics in the community.