Mental Health

The study used three data sources: 1) interviews with persons discharged from mental hospitals in fiscal year 1976, 2) a survey of residential care facilities, with special emphasis on those which serve former state hospital patients, and 3) an analysis of federal, state, and local regulations, including interviews with providers and regulators. Three hundred and sixty-five former state hospital patients were selected for study. All were voluntary or civil commitments, 18 years or older. Persons held for 72 hours for observation but not hospitalized were excluded. Interviews were completed on 225 persons (62 percent).