AIM:To evaluate the effectiveness of hospitalized occupational rehabilitation for chronic schizophrenic patients in social functioning.METHODS:79 qualified cases were selected from chronic psychiatric inpatient departments,divided into two groups randomly,of which 45 cases of treatment group accepted hospitalized occupational rehabilitation,another 34 cases of control group accepted ordinary treatment.Social functioning was evaluated by the Scale of Social Skills of Chronic Schizophrenic In patients(SSSI). RESULTS:6 month course of research figured out that the rank of improvement of the total disability degree of the treatment was significantly larger than that of the control group(P< 0.05).Items of which rank of improvement of the treatment was significantly larger than those of the control group are participating in the occupational rehabilitation,social withdraw and concern and care about others (P< 0.01- 0.05).The level of disability of 55.6% of the treatment decreased more than that of the control (26.5% ) (P< 0.05) evaluated by SSSI.CONCLUSION:Hospitalized occupational rehabilitation is effective in improving social functioning of chronic schizophrenic patients,especially in improving items like participating in the occupational rehabilitation, social withdraw and concern and care about others.