A two phase study was carried out to evaluate the impact of the deinstitutionalization movement on the admission and discharge practices of a large state psychiatric hospital in Florida. Phase I involved a follow-up study of 370 patients who were subject to discharge in 1973, the year after new deinstitutionalization legislation went into effect. Over one-third died at the hospital during 1973-1984. Eighty-seven percent of those who did not die were discharged, most returning to live with relatives. Forty-two percent of those initially discharged were subsequently readmitted. Barriers to community placement were examined for the remaining 45 patients. Barriers to discharge included both clinical and nonclinical factors. Behavioral problems accounted for most of the clinical barriers while nonclinical factors included legal or financial constraints and the lack of appropriate support systems or residential facilities in the community. / Phase II of the study examined the characteristics of 227 patients admitted to the hospital during 1983-84, ten years after deinstitutionalization policies were implemented at the state level. The average patient in this admissions population was male, younger than 40, had three prior admissions and a history of alcohol or drug abuse. Sixty-seven percent had not been employed within the three years preceding admission, and 85% were indigent. Over one-fourth had a history of contact with the criminal justice system. Most stayed at the hospital less than six months. The utilization of the state hospital varied among counties as some communities referred patients to the hospital rather than keep them in a community-based facility as cost saving measure and as a means of social control for deviant behavior not tolerated within the community. In addition to providing treatment which was primarily stabilization via psychotropic medication, it was determined that the state hospital also continues to provide custodial care and asylum, particularly for more elderly patients. Utilization of all three of these functions is expected to continue into the future, as perpetuated by the hospital itself and the community it serves. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-01, Section: B, page: 0365. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_75754 |
| Contributors | BLOOMER, JUDITH SPECIAL., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 249 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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