Schizophrenia—A Follow-up Study of Results of Treatment

Patients treated initially with drugs or ECT showed a trend toward spending less time in hospital after their release, and those who had been treated with milieu therapy had a longer stay dated from the time of admission.

Abstract

This is the second article from a study of the outcome of five different methods of treatment for schizophrenia; patients were followed up over a period of two to five years after first admission and the first release. Patients who had been originally treated in hospital with psychotherapy alone stayed longer in hospital over the follow-up period than those who had received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), drug alone, or drug plus psychotherapy. Those who had been treated with milieu therapy also had a longer stay dated from the time of admission. Patients treated initially with drugs or ECT showed a trend toward spending less time in hospital after their release.