Clinical usefulness of an aftercare worker for psychotic patients discharged from half-way houses in Hong Kong.

Abstract

The aim was to assess the clinical usefulness and economic viability of an aftercare worker for psychotic patients discharged from half-way houses in Hong Kong. A sample of 32 chronic psychotic patients was provided with a full-time aftercare worker. A matched control group received no such service. The experimental group was found to have greater and better employment prospects, better mental status with less hospitalisation and less law-breaking behaviour than the control group. Some of these benefits were converted into economic terms and the tangible costs incurred in the project were calculated. The provision of an aftercare service is clinically useful and economically viable.