Family psychiatric ward treatment in India.

The evolution of family psychiatric ward treatment is reviewed with special reference to the developments at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, India. The set-up and philosophy of the Family Psychiatric Center are highlighted. Case reports are included. The effects of the patient's preference to be accompanied by a particular relative during family ward treatment was studied. The patient's preference for a particular relative was determined by means of a questionnaire. It was found that staying with the preferred relative was associated with a shorter stay and also that different preferred relatives had a differential effect on the duration of the hospital stay of the patient.