Some factors relating to success and failure of male chronic schizophrenics on their first foster home placement.

The relationship between 9 demographic variables and the success or failure of 102 male chronic schizophrenic patients on their first foster home placement were investigated. "Failure" was defined as staying out of the hospital less than 11 months. Three significant findings all independent of each other showed that compared to the 25 "failures" the 77 "successes" had been older at their first hospitalization, had a shorter period between first hospitalization and placement in a foster home, and had fewer admissions to this hospital. Some factors relating to differences in patients, communities, and the use of tranquilizers are suggested as possible reasons underlying the discrepancies in results between this study and others.