[Legislation for inpatient treatment in psychiatry and psychotherapy and its demarcation from rehabilitation. Decision of the German Supreme Court for Social Legislation of February 16, 2005].

Changes in the supply of psychiatric services since the reforms in the 1970s resulted in demarcation problems between treatment (especially for inpatients), rehabilitation, and other forms of care (including nursing and methods of reintegration). As the methods used in psychiatry and psychotherapy in different phases of care are almost identical, other criteria are needed for demarcation. Social legislation does not recognize any time limit for inpatient hospital treatment. In Germany, basic principles for these decisions are laid down in the Personalverordnung Psychiatrie (Psych PV) and the Practice Guidelines of the German Psychiatric Association. Important for the acceptance of inpatient hospital treatment are the objectives and necessities resulting from disease course as well as employment of a multiprofessional team under the guidance of a psychiatric consultant. Alternative methods of care can be suggested only if they are really at the patients' disposal and documentation is not too demanding. These principles were strengthened by the decision of the German Federal Supreme Court for Social Legislation of February 16, 2005.