目的：精神分裂症患者常會復發與再住院。本研究之目的乃在比較，居家治療介入前後，精神分裂症患者的年平均住院天數與再住院率是否有差異？ 方法：樣本來源為南部某醫學中心精神科五年中，持續接受居家治療兩年以上，符合DSM-IIIR精神分裂症診斷之個案，採取病歷回顧之方式，就其人口學基本資料、發病年齡、病程時間、轉介主因與來源、居家治療前門診追蹤時間、與該期間內急性病房之住院天數、居家治療時間、與居家治療期間急性病房之住院天數，進行資料搜集分析。 結果：129例符合標準，其在居家治療前，平均追蹤治療近兩年，平均住院天數為101.24 ± 110.89天╱年╱人，近兩年間的再住院率為59.8%；居家治療後之平均住院天數為11.35 ± 25.94天╱年╱人，居家治療介入後約三年間的再住院率為39.4%。如只取居家治療前，追蹤治療時間超過兩年之個案共51例，進行分析。這51例在居家治療前平均住院天數為49.40 ± 51.47天╱年╱人，近三年間的再住院率68.3%；居家治療後之平均住院天數為13.23 ± 33.54天╱年╱人，三年的再住院率39.3%。 結論：居家治療提供慢性精神分裂症患者接受持續性治療的方式，亦降低病患急性病房的再住院天數與再住院率。

　　　　　Objectives: Schizophrenia is a disorder which is characterized by frequent relapses and re-hospitalizations. The study investigated whether home care could reduce the frequency and duration of re-hospitalization in schizophrenic patients. Methods: Patients with schizophrenia who accepted two years or more of home care in a medical center in Tainan were recruited for participation in the study. Data were collected by chart review. The home care program included psychiatric nurses' home visit, assessment of psychotic symptoms and psychosocial problems, administration of medications. The practice was under the supervision of the attending psychiatrist. Results: A total of 129 patients were recruited. The mean duration of hospitalization per year before participating in home care was 101.24 ± 110.89 days, versus 11.35 ± 25.94 days at 3.3 ± 0.7 years after the start of home care. The re-hospitalization rates changed from 59.8% before receiving to 1.8 ± 1.6 years to 39.4% at 3.3 ± 0.7 years after the start of home care. If we analyzed only the 51 patients who were followed at the OPD for more than two years before home care in the analysis, the mean yearly duration of hospitalization was 49.40 ± 51.47 days/year/patient before home care, versus 13.23 ± 33.54 at 3.3 ± 0.6 years after the start of home care. The re-hospitalization rates changed from 68.3% before receiving to 3.5 ± 1.0 years to 39.3% at 3.3 ± 0.6 years after the start of home care. Conclusion: Home care promoted the regularity of treatment in patient of schizophrenia and lowered their duration and frequency hospitalization.