A comparison between the outcome of both approaches is made. From both literature and their own experience, the authors conclude that an admission to a psychiatric hospital is based on a sumtotal of elements. None of these on their own are decisive, so an admission syndrome as such does not exist. Hence there is room for other, ambulatory methods in many cases the more so as the results are often not worse or even better than those of hospital admissions. Some consequences for the delivery of case are discussed.