A supportive care clinic: maintaining the chronic psychiatric patient.

A comprehensive investigation into the social support networks of a group of chronic psychiatric patients attending a Supportive Care Clinic was conducted. The results suggest that these patients, while exhibiting weaker support systems than the general population, do have a significant amount of personal support in addition to that received from the treatment center. Furthermore, they perceive the "support" aspect of the Clinic as the most helpful feature as compared to personal growth or medication. The results of these findings are discussed in terms of their practical utility for the ambulatory care of chronic psychiatric patients.