Deinstitutionalization and the survival of the state hospital

Despite vigorous efforts at deinstitutionalization, the state mental hospital continues to be the locus of care for a wide variety of patient populations. The authors examined the changes in one state hospital's clientele between 1972 and 1980 and discovered a 50 percent reduction in long-stay patients, a 27 percent increase in admissions, and the emergence of a new long-stay population. The authors say that the modern state hospital can be conceptualized as several different facilities under a single administrative roof rather than as a monolithic structure. They conclude that mental health planners must acknowledge the continued existence of a group of patients whose needs are perhaps best served by the state hospital. Strategies must be developed to use the existing hospital resources in the most efficient and effective manner.