Three random samples up to 65 years of age of (1) inpatients of chronic care wards, (2) residents of hostels on the hospital grounds, and (3) residents of hostels in the community were examined with a variety of instruments including the PSE, and were diagnosed according to DSM-III criteria. Their comparison involved psychopathology, diagnosis, consumption of neuroleptics and the restriction under which they lived.

Long-stay ward residents were most severely disturbed, as was expected. Residents of the hostels on and outside the hospital grounds resembled each other much more. Although those living on the hospital grounds were slightly more disturbed and received more neuroleptics, they lived a less restricted life than the residents of hostels in the community. Comparison with some other studies showed that our results permit generalization, and reflect on government policy.