Effects of psychosocial rehabilitation for hospitalized mentally ill homeless persons

The effectiveness of a psychosocial rehabilitation program in preventing further hospitalization among a group of hospitalized severely mentally ill homeless persons in Israel was evaluated. The program includes inpatient and community residential phases designed to help the participants gradually become more independent. All clients (N=98) discharged from the inpatient phases to supervised or independent community residences since 1982 were followed until December 31, 1992, to determine changes in hospitalization rates. The average follow-up time was six years. The percentage of time clients were hospitalized dropped from 64.9 percent before discharge to the community residences to 12 percent between discharge and follow-up.