PSYCHOSOCIAL REHABILITATION FOR LONG-STAY PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Background: Long-stay psychiatric inpatients with severe mental illness often experience significant functional impairments and social challenges. Psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) aims to enhance skills, independence, and community integration. This PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review synthesizes recent evidence on PSR models, interventions, and outcomes for long-stay psychiatric inpatients.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar (2015 2025) for quantitative studies evaluating PSR interventions among adult long-stay psychiatric patients. Included studies reported outcomes such as discharge rates, functional status, and quality of life. Data on study design, samples, interventions, and outcomes were extracted. Risk of bias was assessed qualitatively. Results: Twenty-five studies met inclusion after screening 1,320 records. Most focused on complex psychotic disorders in hospital or community rehabilitation settings. PSR interventions were multi-component, including social skills training, vocational rehabilitation, and family involvement, delivered by multidisciplinary teams. Approximately two-thirds of patients achieved successful community discharge without relapse within one year; about 40% progressed to more independent living over 2-3 years. Rehabilitation yielded significant improvements in psychosocial functioning and quality of life, with reductions in disability and gains in social and self-care skills. Access to PSR consistently correlated with reduced hospitalization; one cohort showed a 64% decrease in readmission and 6,585 fewer inpatient days, while another found mean inpatient days dropped from 335 to 199 after specialized rehab.

Conclusions: PSR effectively supports discharge, reduces relapse, and enhances recovery in long-stay psychiatric patients. Continued investment in multidisciplinary rehabilitation is essential. Future research should explore long-term outcomes and include older adults and non-psychotic populations.