The Maine and Vermont three-decade studies of serious mental illness. II. Longitudinal course comparisons.

Abstract

This paper supplements the cross-sectional outcome comparisons of the companion paper by providing a brief account of the longitudinal courses of the Maine and Vermont samples across several outcome domains. A Life Chart method was used to document changes in individual lives over the domains of residence, work, income source, and use of community resources over a 20-year period. Reliability studies between states were conducted. Throughout much of the period, more Vermont subjects lived independently, were working, and were less likely to use community resources compared to Maine subjects. Differences in both policies and programmes contributed to course differences between the groups. System characteristics that may lead to better outcomes are discussed.