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Psychiatric day hospitals--another route to institutionalization?
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|March 1, 1989
Summary
Rehabilitation planning may help discharge less ill day patients sooner. However, more resources are needed to prevent institutionalization in day hospitals for all patients.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Day hospitals provide care for long-stay patients.
- The effectiveness of rehabilitation teams in day hospitals is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the outcomes of long-stay day patients referred to a rehabilitation team versus those not referred.
- To assess the impact of rehabilitation planning on patient discharge and well-being.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study of 38 long-stay day patients (19 referred to rehabilitation, 19 matched controls).
- Patient outcomes were assessed after one year, focusing on discharge rates, social contact, and symptomology.
Main Results:
- Seven rehabilitation patients were discharged compared to three control patients within 12 months (not statistically significant).
- Discharged patients generally had fewer negative symptoms and were less disturbed initially.
- Rehabilitation patients and staff reported potentially better morale.
Conclusions:
- Rehabilitation planning may expedite discharge for less severely ill day patients.
- Increased resources are necessary to combat 'institutionalization' within day hospital settings.