The future of state mental health programs for the chronic psychiatric patient in the community.

The author explores the problems facing the chronic psychiatric patient in the community and discussed the response of federal and state governments to these problems. Errors of the past and present are delineated and corrective actions are suggested for the future. Finally, it is argued that if society is able to meet the challenge posed by the chronic psychiatric patient in the community it will simultaneously have set up mechanisms to solve the problems of other disabled and disadvantaged groups of people as well.