Impact of Institutionalization on the Posture of Chronic Schizophrenic Patients

In this study the impact of institutionalization on the posture of chronic, undifferentiated schizophrenic patients was examined. The postures of a sample group of schizophrenic patients were measured: this group was then divided into those who had been continuously institutionalized and those who had been intermittently institutionalized. Patients who had been hospitalized for a longer, continuous period were found to have significantly poorer posture than those who were institutionalized for a similar period of time, but only intermittently. The authors raise questions about better understanding of posture and movement for more effective therapy programs.