Physical health promotion in psychiatric day treatment

Physiological and self-care needs are often neglected in the treatment of chronic psychiatric patients. In an attempt to treat the whole person, a stress and health management program was implemented in the partial hospitalization program of a large, urban medical center, with the goal of improving client capabilities and self-esteem. The Psychiatric Day Treatment Center was a nurse-coordinated program held Monday through Friday from 9 to 4 in an office separate from the hospital. Most patients attended from 2 weeks to 6 months, at first on a daily basis, and then tapered off to a part-time schedule as they neared discharge. The population was varied with regard to age, educational, and socioeconomic background. Clients ranged in age from 16 to 85; some participants were professionals, while others had not completed high school. When they left the program, some clients were able to manage part-time jobs, while others opted for volunteer work or for longer term day treatment. All clients had been previously hospitalized for treatment of psychiatric illness. Some clients attended the program to avoid another hospitalization, as it offered more intensive treatment and medication management than the weekly outpatient treatment did. Some clients used the program to ease the transition between hospital and community. Clients who needed more stimulation and interaction than they were receiving also participated.