Length and number of hospitalizations in two cohorts of veterans with chronic schizophrenia.

Two cohorts of male veteran patients with schizophrenia were compared on several clinical and demographic measures. The first cohort, hospitalized in one of two Veterans Affairs hospitals between 1965 and 1975, consisted largely of Korean-era veterans. The second cohort, hospitalized between 1991 and 1994, were largely Vietnam-era veterans. Although treatment and management of patients with schizophrenia differed during the two eras and the second cohort had a significantly higher mean number of hospitalizations than the first, the two cohorts did not differ in total time hospitalized. The finding suggests the need to improve methods for relapse prevention.