A survey of the treatment received by patients during three years after the onset of a first-lifetime episode of a functional non-affective psychosis is presented against the background of developments concerning the mental health services. Treatment, especially hospitalisation, was found to be rather extensive but still lagging behind the presence of psychiatric symptoms at any moment. Because continuity of care after discharge is very important for this kind of disorder, special attention is given to thc occurrence of aftercare. Results showed that almost two fifths of all discharges were not followed by any kind of treatment. Moreover, patients who did not receive aftercare were found to be more psychiatrically disturbed than those who did. It is stressed that the treatment of these patients should be more intensive. The consequences for the system of mental health services are discussed and some recommendations are made.