Am J Psychiatry 1975; 132:517-522
Copyright © 1975 by American Psychiatric Association
Alternative to the hospital: a controlled study
LI Stein, MA Test and AJ Marx
The authors describe the evaluation of a treatment model that makes use of
the community to help mentally ill patients acquire necessary coping
skills. This approach is based on the assumption that deficiency in coping
skills and aggressive dependency are primarily responsible for high
readmission rates to mental hospitals and that coping skills and autonomy
are best learned in the community, where the patient will be needing and
using them. The treatment model is evaluated by comparing it with
progressive in-hospital treatment and follow-up care. The results suggest
that the model described can successfully treat patients with a high level
of symptomatology in the community rather than in the mental hospital.
