A survey was made of 1730 psychiatric patients who had been discharged into the community. Of the 1730, more were females (69%), but disorders among men were more severe. Three groups of cases were identified: the most severe, composed of persons poorly established in the community, most frequently single unskilled males and often diagnosed schizophrenic; the second most severe, composed of persons with personality disorders, often married, whose vocational adjustment was the poorest before illness and still poorer after; and a third group made up of older, better established patients, often depressed, whose subsequent adjustment tended to demonstrate a loss of status. Services for the three groups varied in source and extent. A second study was made of factors influencing the vocational success of 169 severely disturbed as by the criteria above. Vocational counseling and a workshop were provided, but vocational success was limited: approximately one-third worked one-third of the time, one-third worked half-time, and one-third not at all. Nor were symptoms reduced. However, success was shown to be clearly related to measures of cognitive functioning and little related to personality structure. Patterns of social factors revealed that persons whose social adjustment was in equilibrium tended not to change their style and not to work. (JD)