The long-term outcomes and unmet needs of a cohort of former long-stay patients in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Former long-stay patients with psychotic disorders have significant unmet needs. This study assessed the long-term outcomes for the original cohort of 18 residents of the Footbridge Community Care Unit (CCU), a residential psychiatric rehabilitation unit at St Vincent's Mental Health Melbourne. A review of case records and interviews were conducted for each member of the cohort 8 years after admission to the CCU. Members of the cohort were living in a variety of settings after discharge from the CCU. Despite significant gains during the period of residential rehabilitation in the CCU after hospital discharge, by the time of follow-up individuals were in general leading restricted lives chara..