Day-program-based treatment in the Amsterdam City Center

The Social Psychiatric Services Center (SPDC C/OW) is the acute psychiatric clinic for the Amsterdam city center. The unit, originally an integrated part of a General Psychiatric Hospital located outside Amsterdam, was transferred to the city center in 1988. Since then, the unit has been transformed into a fully operational institute for day-program-based treatment, both as a substitute for 24 hours hospitalization and as an extension of community treatment programs. The SPDC's organization, the format and contents of the treatment program and the integrated cooperation with the district mental health care partners proceed directly from the consistently applied key concepts: day-program-based treatment, continuity of care and tailor-made care. After an overview of some relevant developments in the Netherlands in general and in Amsterdam more specifically the SPDC is described in detail. Some conclusions, based on the experience of 6 years work in this organisation, are drawn, focussing on long term treatment strategies and the differences and merits of community-based versus hospital-based care.