Inpatient behavior therapy: the St. Louis University model

Many of the problems that impede the practice of behavior therapy on traditional psychiatric and medical inpatient services can be avoided by a separate behaviorally-oriented inpatient unit, but few guidelines exist for establishing such a unit. The present paper describes the inpatient Behavioral Treatment Unit developed at St. Louis University Medical Center. Critical administrative and clinical features of the Unit are discussed, including the administrative philosophy which emphasizes unit autonomy and participative management, the central role of nursing staff, the importance of the clinical team system, the development of referral sources, admission procedures and criteria, and basic approaches to assessment and treatment.