Outcome of First Hospitalization of Patients with Schizophrenia

Among 5,781 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and hospitalized for the first time when admitted to an Ohio State public mental hospital during the period January 1, 1948, through June 30, 1952, complete discharge occurred in relatively substantial numbers quite soon after admission. Generally, discharge occurred sooner or somewhat more frequently among those from metropolitan areas than among those from nonmetropolitan areas, in the younger age group than in the older, and among housewives than among employed women. The married patients, those in professional and semiprofessional occupations, and those with more education had the best chances of an early discharge. Discharge rates by sex or race were fairly similar. In almost all instances, however, there were exceptions, and many patterns were either erratic or inconsistent. Some 40 percent of the patients were discharged within 6 months of admission and nearly 70 percent within 2 years, but approximately 22 of every 100 had not been discharged 5 years after admission. Actual time spent in the hospital was substantially less than the period patients were carried on the hospital books.