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Quality of life and social functioning of former long-stay psychiatric patients transferred into the community: a 10 year follow up study

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Deinstitutionalisation in Ireland began following the impetus of the successful transfer of psychiatric patients into the community in other countries. This study sought to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) and social functioning (SF) of former long-stay institutionalised patients with severe and enduring mental illness who had been relocated into local community settings and followed up 10 years later.

Method

One month prior to hospital closure, 87 former long-stay psychiatric patients, the majority of whom had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, were assessed on a range of QoL and SF measures. Patients were followed-up 10 years later in the community, to evaluate baseline predictors of quality of life and social functioning.

Results

Study completers (n = 35) improved significantly on a range of QoL and SF measures over the 10 year period. Specific improvements were noted in domestic skills (t = − 2.8, p < 0.0008), community skills (t = − 4.9, p < 0.001), as well as the activity and social relations measure (t = − 4.1, p < 0.001). Increased social function (t = − 6.3, p < 0.001) and improvement on the social behaviour scale (t = 7.6, p < 0.001) were noted at follow-up. Linear regression analysis found that less social behaviour problems at baseline predicted QoL 10 years later (t = − 2.6, p < 0.02).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that transfer into the community from an institutional environment was associated with long-term improvements in quality of life and social functioning, even in those who spent many years in the institution. Those who demonstrated the greatest improvement in QoL had less social behavioural problems at baseline assessment, providing further evidence of the success of community living for former long-stay patients.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge all the patients who participated in the study over the 10 years. The nursing and administration staff of the Clare Mental Health Services kindly assisted in data collection. Particular gratitude to Dr Mary McInerney, former Clinical Director of Clare Mental Health Services whose dedication to the closure of the hospital and community placement of this cohort was an inspiration to those working with her and to those patients who were under her care.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Galway, Galway, Ireland

    S. J. McInerney, E. Walsh, L. Spelman, B. Hallahan & C. McDonald

  2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    S. J. McInerney

  3. Department of Psychiatry, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Canada

    S. J. McInerney & N. E. Edgar

  4. Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, Toronto, Canada

    S. J. McInerney

  5. Arthur Sommer Rotenberg Suicide and Depression Studies Program, Toronto, Canada

    S. J. McInerney & N. E. Edgar

  6. Mental Health Commission, Ireland, Dublin, Ireland

    S. Finnerty

  7. The Centre for Neuroimaging and Cognitive Genomics (NICOG) and NCBES Galway Neuroscience Centre, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland

    B. Hallahan & C. McDonald

Authors
  1. S. J. McInerney
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  2. S. Finnerty
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  3. E. Walsh
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  4. L. Spelman
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  5. N. E. Edgar
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  6. B. Hallahan
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  7. C. McDonald
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. J. McInerney.

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McInerney, S.J., Finnerty, S., Walsh, E. et al. Quality of life and social functioning of former long-stay psychiatric patients transferred into the community: a 10 year follow up study. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 53, 795–801 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1520-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-018-1520-3

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