Short-term hospitalization and the medical model.

In recent years there has been a significant decrease in the length of hospital stays for psychiatric patients. The author examines whether the shorter stays are justified by results of controlled studies and, if so, what is the most appropriate hospital milieu for short-term units. He summarizes several studies supporting his opinion that short-term hospitalization is usually indicated for the majority of patients, provided that continuity of care is ensured and that supervised living arrangements are available for patients who require them. He believes a medical-model milieu with a clear structure and delineation of roles is most appropriate for short-term in-patient units.