New directions and added dimensions in home psychiatric treatment

Abstract

In addition to preventing or shortening psychiatric hospitalization, home psychiatric treatment allows family collaborative therapy, crisis resolution, therapy for nonresponders to hospitalization, treatment of family members other than the identified patient, work with the entire environment, treatment of patients with both medical and psychiatric disorders, work with the elderly, and educational advantages for medical students and residents. The author believes that home treatment is the treatment of choice in cases where family dynamics have a major role, preserving the patient's autonomy is paramount, and hospitalization would be deleterious.