The Introduction of a Crisis Unit in a Mental Hospital

Abstract

A community oriented Crisis Unit was introduced in a mental hospital as an integral part of a comprehensive Clinical Service. The unit is doing crisis assessment and intervention for patients referred to this Clinical Service and a 72-hour inpatient or day-care crisis oriented therapy. The locale, the organization of the team and the work of the unit are described. Data are given regarding the number of patients seen during the first six months, of those admitted and of those discharged within 72 hours or transferred to another unit of the service. Additional data referring to the patients admitted to the Crisis Unit and during a corresponding six-month period of the previous year when the Unit was not operating are also given. The reduction of the inpatient population of the service and the associated financial savings are outlined. The management of the Unit on an open-door policy is described. The impact of the Unit on the treatment programs of the other units of the service is discussed. It is suggested that crisis therapy oriented units should be considered an essential and integral component of the psychiatric services offered by mental or general hospitals. Comparative studies of patient populations before and after the introduction of such units and long-term follow-up evaluative studies are required.