Preparing Chronic Patients for Community Placement: A Four-Stage Treatment Program

Norristown (Pa.) State Hospital has a four-stage treatment program that prepares chronic patients for returning to the community. The program, which began in 1970, includes three token economy wards that are segregated by sex, and a coed activities ward, socialization ward, and exit ward. Over the past five years, 258 chronic patients have been discharged to the community after completing the treatment program. During the three months to five years since their discharge, 227 patients, or 88 per cent, have made a successful adjustment to the community. The unit's 12-per-cent recidivism rate is well below the national average for such programs.