SummaryA census was taken of all patients in psychiatric hostels and homes, psychiatric day care, and short-term in-patient care who also had at least one year's history of contact with services. During the following two years, 61% of the patients stayed continuously in day or residential care, while 17% were discharged from care within the first year and made no further use of day or residential services. Two main patterns of contact were evident–repeated short-term in-patient care or longer-term care in services outside hospital. Their most important determinant was whether a viable marriage still existed for the patient.
