ABSTRACT
The trends toward deinstitutionalization and community care have increased the need for short-term residential programs, and the literature supports their effectiveness as an alternative to longer-term care. The authors describe an innovative short-term residential treatment program at Florida Mental Health Institute. Called the Early Intervention Project and limited to nine weeks, it uses a combination of behavioral and psycho-educational techniques for building skills in younger patients who have not received extensive prior treatment. It includes training modules in assertiveness, communication, problem-solving, managing anxiety and depression, medication, relaxation, and nutrition, and also incorporates a peer-managed token economy. A series of research studies have demonstrated the program's effectiveness in changing patient behavior.
Subject(s)
Community Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Adolescent , Adult , Attitude of Health Personnel , Behavior Therapy , Deinstitutionalization , Evaluation Studies as Topic , Florida , Humans , Middle Aged , Peer Group , Psychotic Disorders/psychology , Psychotic Disorders/rehabilitation , Time FactorsSubject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Mental Disorders/psychology , Residential Treatment , Adult , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
This study examined the relationship between staff rated discharge readiness and patient personality, demographic, and intellectual variables. Chi square and t test analyses were performed on data of 88 male and female adult patients of a short-term residential psychiatric treatment program. Patient diagnosis, trait anxiety level, marital status, age, and abstract intelligence scores assessed at admission were found to be significantly associated with staff ratings of patients' readiness for discharge following six weeks of treatment. Findings were discussed in terms of prior process and outcome literature and implications for future research.
