An Intensive Treatment Program for Psychiatric Inpatients: A Description and Evaluation

Traditional psychiatric theory suggests that the treatment of the mentally ill should be focused on curing the patient's underlying intra-personal problems. For the severely disturbed patient this approach leads to a prolonged hospitalization which may result in the atrophy of skills and the loss of community roles. An alternative treatment program aimed at preventing these secondary disabilities is described. This program has a clear career path which starts with the rapid termination of the patient's acute disturbance and ends with the development of a realistic plan for the patient's return to the community. A systematic evaluation of the program is presented.