The foundation of a rehabilitation center for schizophrenics annexed to the Psychiatric University Clinic of Vienna in 1963 initiated a systematic readaptation strategy for these patients all over Austria. The main task of these rehabilitation units is to evaluate the working and social capacities after acute illness episodes, to motivate the patient to accept professional activities and living conditions adapted to their health state through reinforcement of special competences, to replace inadequate attribution and coping styles by appropriate behavior patterns and to enhance compliance for necessary drug treatment. During the rehabilitation period the families are systematically prepared to live with the patients. In accordance with the obtained level of rehabilitation the patients are then either reintegrated into their family and/or normal professional conditions or placed in special settings (homes, sheltered workshops). A long-term followup is assured.