[Day-night therapy- a necessary step towards better care for mental patients]

The authors, after giving an outline of the history of what is known as day-clinics, comment on the importance of such institutions as a link between psychiatric inpatient and outpatient treatment. The results obtained in the treatment in day-clinics of 120 mental patients are compared with those obtained for 120 inpatients. Also discussed are a number of conclusions drawn from results to date. The authors finally consider the future development of this particular field of therapy.