[Improving the ward atmosphere on the acute psychiatric unit]

Patients and nurses assessed the social atmosphere in two psychiatric acute care units and their behavior was recorded before and after the observation ward and the residential ward were transformed into two fully functioning admission wards, avoiding transference of patients. Consequently, the initially high amount of isolated behavior decreased, social behavior and outdoor activities increased. For the patients, however, the stereotype of a psychiatric acute care unit does not change so soon because of their higher aspiration levels and their uncertainty about the treatment concept. As the new structures increasingly are filled with life, "environmental therapy" aimed at the patients' involvement gains a great importance.