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The therapeutic community in theory and practice
Hospital & Community Psychiatry
|June 1, 1977
Summary
This study operationalized the therapeutic community (TC) concept using a validated questionnaire. Staff identified discrepancies between real and ideal TC conditions on psychiatric wards, informing practice improvements.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Therapeutic communities (TCs) are established treatment models in psychiatric care.
- An operational definition is needed to assess TC fidelity and guide improvements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a questionnaire to describe the operational characteristics of a therapeutic community.
- To assess the gap between real and ideal conditions within TCs on psychiatric wards.
Main Methods:
- Literature review to identify key TC characteristics.
- Development of a 40-item questionnaire.
- Validation through expert ratings (n=27).
- Administration to psychiatric ward staff (n=22) to compare real vs. ideal conditions.
Main Results:
- A validated 40-item questionnaire was created to define TC operational aspects.
- Staff reported differences between current (real) and desired (ideal) TC environments.
- Data provides a benchmark for assessing TC implementation.
Conclusions:
- The validated questionnaire offers a tool for evaluating TC effectiveness.
- Identified gaps between real and ideal conditions highlight areas for targeted intervention.
- Findings support enhancing TC fidelity in psychiatric settings.