Day Versus Inpatient Hospitalization: A Controlled Study

The authors report the results of their controlled study to compare the efficacy of day versus inpatient hospitalization for those patients for whom both treatments are equally feasible clinically. Newly admitted inpatients from the catchment area were randomly assigned to either day or inpatient care. Outcome evaluations, including measures of psychopathology and role function, were conducted at various follow-up intervals. The authors found clear evidence of the superiority of day treatment on virtually eveny measure used to evaluate outcome.