The discovery of chlorpromazine produced a dramatic decrease in the number of schizophrenia patients who required chronic hospitalization. The curves in the upper panel are based on a one-percent incidence of schizophrenia in the general population, with one-third of these requiring chronic hospitalization before the advent of phenothiazines. Current costs of schizophrenia to society have been estimated at two percent of the gross national product (GNP). Projected values and values prior to 1955 in the lower panel of the figure are based on costs that are four times that value.

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