The decision to change the primary locus of care for chronically ill
psychiatric patients from the state mental hospital to the community has
often set off a chain reaction of consequences. Notably, reducing the role
of institutions has frequently resulted in destroying needed sanctuary for
some patients. The author discusses the relationship between
deinstitutionalization and the function of asylum and examines the
relevance of three planning principles--functional equivalence, cultural
relevance, and potential trade-offs--to the need of chronically ill
psychiatric patients for asylum.Abstract Teaser