Evaluation of a comprehensive community rehabilitation program

This paper examined be outcome of a comprehensive community rehabilitation program (CRP)for long-term psychiatric clients 20 months after its implementation in a semi-rural area of Nova Scotia. Clients in the program (N = 18) were offered a number of psychosocial rehabilitative services, while clients in the comparison group (N = 18) were provided be regular depot clinic services Reviews of the service at 8 and 20 months indicated bat CRP clients had made moderate to significant progress in be achievement of their short-term goals were able to improve their functional and coping abilities, and sought fewer and shorter inpatient admissions. In addition, they made fewer non-psychiatric outpatient visits ban clients in the comparison group. The community rehabilitation program included a wide range of services, and its positive impact was far greater ban be limited aftercare service delivered in be standard system.