Day Hospital Treatment for Mood Disorders

An increasing proportion of psychiatric patients are treated in day hospital settings, which are an effective alternative to hospital admission. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an intensive day program for patients with mood disorders. A series of 185 patients (102 women and 83 men with an average age of 55 years) who were consecutively referred to the psychiatric day hospital at A. Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy, and who met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for mood disorders were evaluated at admission, at discharge, and after six months. The study participants reported a significant reduction in symptoms as well as improvements in social adaptation and overall functioning.