Partial hospitalization: a review of recent literature.

The author reviews recent studies on the evaluation of partial hospitalization programs in North America and Europe. The lack of a clear definition of partial hospitalization is one of the factors leading to its underutilization, many authorities believe. After discussing the nomenclature and emphasizing the importance of classifying programs by function--day hospitals, day treatment programs, and day care centers--the author reviews the recent literature and makes recommendations in the framework of this nomenclature.