Hospital-based behavior therapy services

Behavior therapy has been underutilized in the private psychiatric hospital setting. A recent survey of member hospitals of the National Association of Private Psychiatric Hospitals (NAPPH) found that fewer than 25 percent of those surveyed provided behavior-therapy consultation for inpatients and fewer than 40 percent had a behavior therapist on staff (1). This situation is unfortunate because behavior therapy has made significant contributions to the mental health field, and the approach offers a research-based system of accountability and cost-efficiency. Moreover, behavior therapy is applicable to a wide range of psychiatric problems, and its methods and procedures provide a practical and effective complement or alternative to a patient's pharmacotherapy and insight-oriented psychotherapy. Clearly, behavior therapy has much to offer the private psychiatric hospital, and this contribution is gradually being recognized. This paper describes the development and growth of a behavioral-consultation and treatment program in a private psychiatric hospital.