Profile of Chronically Mentally Ill Psychotic Patients in Four Community Mental Health Centers

This study described patients (N = 160) of four public mental health facilities who had a diagnosis of psychotic chronic mental illness. Relationships were examined between a chronic psychotic diagnosis and sociodemo-graphic characteristics, medical diagnosis, social, economic and legal problems, and characteristics of treatment. A diagnosis of chronic psychotic illness was related to being male, unmarried, unemployed, and Asian; to having medical and economic problems; and to being treated with pharmacotherapy, by a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse; and to remaining in therapy. Patients who remained in treatment were distinguished from dropouts by the use of pharmacotherapy in treatment and the presence of medical problems.