Objective To study the impact of open--management on the social functions of long-term schizophrenic inpatients. Methods A total of 120 schizophrenic inpatients were randomly chosen and divided into 3 groups equally （group A,group B,group C,40 patients each）. Group A included those who had to stay in the ward; group B those who could walk around in the hospital; and group C those who were allowed to go home. All subjects were tested with SSPI to evaluate the social functions for the long--term schizophrenics at the baseline,the ends of the 3rd and the 6th months after the open--man- agement. Results In group A,there were no significant differences between the total score of SSPI at the ends of the 3rd and the 6th months from that at the baseline （P 〉 0.05） ; in group B and C,there were significant differences between the total scores of SSPI at the ends of the 3rd and the 6th months from that at the baseline （P 〈 0.01）. In group B,there were significant differences on the total score of SSPI between the end of the 6th and the 3rd month （P 〈 0.05）. In group C,there were significant differences on the total score of SSPI between the end of the 6th and the 3rd month （P 〈 0.01） the total scores of SSPI at the ends of the 3rd and the 6th months in both group B and C were significantly different from that in group A,respectively （P 〈 0.01）. Conclusions The open--management can improve the social functions of the long--term schizophrenic inpatients. The higher the degree of the open--management is,the better the social functions will be improved.