Trends in hospital versus community treatment of mental illness: a Texas example

The authors present statistics from Harris County, Tex., that indicate community psychiatry is making progress toward its goals of decreasing inpatient hospitalization and increasing services to the community. At the present ratio of services, a 30%-40% increase in outpatient services could theoretically eliminate the inpatient system. The authors stress the fact that inpatient facilities are still vital and offer directives for the future roles of the hospital and of community psychiatry.