Care of persons with schizophrenia: a statistical profile

This article presents the latest information available from the National Reporting Program for Mental Health Statistics on the distribution and characteristics of persons with schizophrenia served by organized, specialty inpatient, outpatient, and partial care mental health programs. Results are presented separately for persons under care at one point in time and for persons admitted over a 1-year period, in order to examine the potential for change in each type of care. Findings show that about 900,000 persons with schizophrenia were served in 1986; that inpatient and outpatient programs were relatively equivalent in total numbers served, but that considerably more patient turnover occurred in inpatient programs; and that partial care programs, although small, were evolving as a locus of care for persons with schizophrenia. Some variations were observed among the different types of organizations offering each type of care, and characteristics of clients/patients that could lead to changes in each type of care were evident. Overall, the findings present a useful composite picture of specialty mental health care for persons with schizophrenia. The need for longitudinal, prospective research is noted.