Discharge problems of long-term hospitalized psychiatric patients

This was a descriptive study of discharge problems identified by long-term hospitalized psychiatric patients. Thirty adult patients from Utah State Hospital participated in this study from September 12, 1968, to January l6, 1969. The sample was not intended to be representative of the patient population. The method of collecting data was two structured interviews, one before discharge and one a month after discharge. Actual discharge problems were identified in the postdischarge interview. The results of the study contribute to knowledge needed by a psychiatric nurse as she prepares a patient for discharge and assists him with his problems of adjustment in the community. Forty-three percent of the patients identified personal problems having to do mainly with their own feelings and behavior and physical symptoms. Twenty-seven percent of the patients identified family problems having to do with marital partners, children, and other family members. Twenty percent had problems with the environment, here defined as nonfamily social environment, having to do with roommates, co-workers, and friends. Twenty percent had problems with employment of either a gainful nature or the expected functions of a housewife. Twenty percent had financial problems which were mainly monetary and only minimally related to employment. No correlation was found between patient characteristics and the ability to predict the numbers of problems at discharge. This emphasizes the necessity for considering each patient individually. There was significant difference in the patients' appraisals of the importance of anticipated and actual family problems. This contributes to knowledge of how discharged patients in general view this category of problems. There was a tendency of patients to underestimate the number of personal problems and overestimate the number of other problems. This tendency contributes also to general knowledge of discharged patients. By exploring some of the difficulties of obtaining information, this study reiterates the necessity for obtaining knowledge of a particular agency's administrative structure and operating procedures in order to achieve a smooth and satisfactory working relationship. Although it was not the study's objective to explore the need for after care, the researcher's general impression was that discharged patients wanted the continued attention of professional personnel and benefited when this attention was given.