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The paradoxical underutilization of partial hospitalization.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|June 1, 1978
Summary
Partial hospitalization offers clinical effectiveness and cost advantages over inpatient care for psychiatric patients. Despite proven benefits, its underutilization persists due to various institutional and individual factors.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Health Economics
Background:
- Partial hospitalization is clinically effective for diverse psychiatric conditions.
- This treatment modality remains underutilized in mental healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the economic advantages of partial hospitalization.
- To compare the cost-effectiveness of partial hospitalization versus inpatient care.
Main Methods:
- Matched comparison of day hospital patients and inpatients with similar admission symptoms and prognoses.
- One-year follow-up data collection on clinical outcomes and costs.
Main Results:
- Clinical outcomes were comparable between partial hospitalization and inpatient groups.
- Partial hospitalization demonstrated significant cost advantages over inpatient care.
Conclusions:
- Partial hospitalization is a clinically effective and more affordable alternative to inpatient psychiatric care.
- Underutilization may stem from institutional, patient, family, and clinician-related barriers.