大塚 公一郎

In this study, the research target̶10 schizophrenic patients who received home-visit care by a Greater Tokyo-based internal medicine clinic̶were classified in two patient groups： a no-current-treatment group,such as" never received treatment" or" treatment stopped," and an ongoing treatment group. An analysis of these groups was made by considering the actual process of introduction to home-visit care, present stateof psychiatric treatment, physical complications, details of treatment intervention, and the outcome of theillness. The cases receiving home visits accompanied by support, and the changes observed in cases and familymembers, were evaluated at the time of the initial visit and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Ratings on relevant scalesshowed that both patient groups had a tendency toward maintenance or improvement of both the patient'smental and physical functioning and the family-care capacity. In particular, the patient's mental functioning andthe family-care capacity were significantly improved at the sixth month after the initial home visit in patientsin the no-current treatment group, when compared to the ongoing treatment group. Schizophrenic patientswith physical complications often develop into more difficult cases; however, it was suggested that home carefor both the mental and physical conditions could contribute to a cure, with the participation of physiatristsacting as team members of home medical care institutions for internal medicine, enabling the above integratedapproach to both aspects.