The author reviews the steps that have led to the progressive deemphasis
of psychiatric hospitalization in California and surveys the empirical
basis for rejecting the usefulness of hospitalization. He discusses the
four alternative residential models that have emerged in California as
substitutes for state mental hospitals--general hospital psychiatric units,
board and care homes, private psychiatric facilities available through
vendor contracts, and convalescent hospitals. The author also touches
briefly upon some important problems, including the possible fate of public
general hospital psychiatric units, community mental health services, and
the commitment law in California.Abstract Teaser