Feasibility of a day-treatment program for the severely mentally ill in relation to psychopath
Feasibility of day-treatment for patients accepted for admission to a psychiatric hospital was tested by means of a randomised experiment. Psychopathology was assessed at the time of admission, covering diagnosis, symptoms and psychological impairments, in order to discover factors determining the feasibility of day-treatment. The experimental and control patients do not differ in terms of psychopathology before admission. Psychopathology in both groups is severe. More than 50% of the patients were suffering from a psychosis. Nevertheless day-treatment appeared to be feasible for 36% of the experimental patients. Of the psychopathology assessed in this study, only the extent to which the patient was subject to disorders of conduct seemed to be of influence with respect to the feasibility of day-treatment.