The young adult chronic inpatient: research with a different perspective.

Young adult chronic patients have become an increasingly difficult population for the psychiatric hospital to treat. These patients are also now of mounting concern to public officials and those who must deal with them in the community. The reports on treatment for these patients emanating from the public sector are far from encouraging. This study compares the results of treatment rendered in a private hospital with an active treatment program, with those from the public hospitals. The facts would suggest reason for hope in treating these young adult chronic patients.