What Treatments Are Offered at a Mental Hospital?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Mental Hospitals Have Evolved Throughout HistoryTypes of Mental HospitalsWhy Are Some People Admitted to Mental Hospitals?What Are the Benefits of Being Admitted to a Mental Hospital?Reasons Why a Mental Hospital Isn’t Always Beneficial for Everyone

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

How Mental Hospitals Have Evolved Throughout History

Types of Mental Hospitals

Why Are Some People Admitted to Mental Hospitals?

What Are the Benefits of Being Admitted to a Mental Hospital?

Reasons Why a Mental Hospital Isn’t Always Beneficial for Everyone

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A mental hospital, also known as a psychiatric hospital, is a facility that provides specialized inpatient care for mental health conditions.

Mental hospitals often provide care and treatment for people with serious mental health illnesses.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a serious mental illness is a mental, emotional, or behavioral condition leading to substantial impairment in a person’s ability to function in their daily life and activities.This may includemajor depressive disorder,schizophrenia,bipolar disorder,obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD), andpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).

The first institution for the mentally ill was Eastern State Hospital in Williamsburg, Virginia, established in 1768.The 1800s were a period of increasingly institutionalized care of the mentally ill. By the end of the century, every state in the U.S. had one or more mental hospitals.

During the mid-1800s, reformers such as Dorthea Dix played an important role in advocating for a more humane approach to treating people with mental health problems.Rather than acting as a warehouse for the mentally ill, today’s mental hospitals are focused on offering treatment and supportive care for people with psychiatric conditions.

The term ‘mental hospital’ is frequently used to describe either a psychiatric hospital or psychiatric ward.

There are other mental health facilities that offer less intensive or less acute psychiatric services and support. These include:

An inpatient hospital is the highest level of care designed to treat the most severe symptoms. Residential treatment can provide medium-level care and often acts as a transition from an inpatient setting. Outpatient care is a less intensive level of care where people receive treatment as needed but still lead their personal and professional lives outside of treatment.

The type of facility a person needs often depends on the level of care that they require.

Reasons a person may be admitted to a mental hospital include:

Sometimes, an admission to a mental hospital occurs if there are significant changes to someone’s medications or treatments that might be destabilizing and unsafe without having close supervision during this time.

Admission may begin in the emergency room department of a general hospital. Emergency room practitioners may refer an individual to a mental health hospital for further evaluation and treatment if a person presents with serious mental health symptoms.

In other cases, a person may voluntarily visit an admission or intake center at a mental hospital for an evaluation. If a mental health provider feels that the individual would benefit from inpatient admission, that person may sign a consent form to agree to be hospitalized.

Sometimes people are admitted to mental hospitals on aninvoluntary basis. Involuntary admission may occur if:

The length of time a person can be involuntarily committed and who can make a request to have somewhat committed against their will varies based on state laws.

Can You Commit Someone to a Mental Hospital Against Their Will?

A mental hospital can play an essential role in comprehensive mental health treatment for individuals experiencing severe mental illness. One review found that inpatient and community rehabilitation mental health services decreased the need for inpatient psychiatric services over the long term.

For many people, a stay in a mental hospital provides a period of stabilization and intensive care that allows them to regain a certain degree of functioning. While goals vary for each person and situation, treatment will often involve providing a safe environment, treating acute symptoms with medications and psychotherapy, and coordinating increased outpatient supports.

While mental hospitals can provide useful assistance to people experiencing serious mental health symptoms or severe psychological distress, they are not the right choice for every person or situation.

Some potential downsides include:

Cost

Inpatient hospitalization is a considerable expense. Although insurance or governmental programs may pay for psychiatric hospitalization, for many people, the cost may serve as a barrier to treatment.

Lack of Access

In addition to the high cost of inpatient treatment, admission criteria may exclude some people who need mental assistance. As one review noted, this often leads to people becoming trapped in a cycle of emergency room presentation and incarceration.

Consent

The concept of involuntary psychiatric treatment has long been a polarizing topic.Some critics have also opposed the existence of any form of involuntary admission to a psychiatric facility.

Post-Hospitalization Risks

Other Options Can Be Effective

While mental hospitals can provide important care, some critics have noted a lack of solid evidence to demonstrate that hospitalization is more effective than other treatment approaches. One study, for example, found that for certain outcome measures acute psychiatric day hospitals were as effective as inpatient mental hospitals.

However, there is evidence that inpatient facilities can successfully help people with severe mental illness and effectively reduce the long-term costs of caring for those with such conditions.

The average length of stay for inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in the United States is around 10 days, although lengths of stay can vary considerably.

How to Admit Yourself to a Psychiatric Hospital

14 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Mental illness.The New York Times.The first insane asylum: To Virginia belongs the credit in this country.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diseases of the mind: Highlights of American psychiatry through 1900.KQED.Did the emptying of mental hospitals contribute to homelessness?U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diseases of the mind: Highlights of American psychiatry through 1900.Marshall M, Crowther R, Sledge WH, Rathbone J, Soares-Weiser K.Day hospital versus admission for acute psychiatric disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Dec 7;2011(12):CD004026. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004026.pub2Saya A, Brugnoli C, Piazzi G, et al.Criteria, procedures, and future prospects of involuntary treatment in psychiatry around the world: A narrative review.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:271. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00271John Hopkins Public Health Preparedness Programs.Emergency detention of persons deemed a danger to themselves and others during public health emergencies.Dalton-Locke C, Marston L, McPherson P, Killaspy H.The effectiveness of mental health rehabilitation services: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.Front Psychiatry. 2021;11:607933. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.607933Clarke A, Glick ID.The crisis in psychiatric hospital care: changing the model to continuous, integrative behavioral health care.PS. 2020;71(2):165-169. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900259Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Civil commitment and the mental health care continuum: Historical trends and principles for law and practice.Olfson M, Wall M, Wang S, et al.Short-term suicide risk after psychiatric hospital discharge.JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(11):1119. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2035Madsen T, Egilsdottir E, Damgaard C, Erlangsen A, Nordentoft M.Assessment of suicide risks during the first week immediately after discharge from psychiatric inpatient facility.Front Psychiatry. 2021;0. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643303Killaspy H, Marston L, Green N, Harrison I, Lean M, Holloway F, Craig T, Leavey G, Arbuthnott M, Koeser L, McCrone P, Omar RZ, King M.Clinical outcomes and costs for people with complex psychosis; a naturalistic prospective cohort study of mental health rehabilitation service users in England.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:95. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0797-6

14 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Mental Health.Mental illness.The New York Times.The first insane asylum: To Virginia belongs the credit in this country.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diseases of the mind: Highlights of American psychiatry through 1900.KQED.Did the emptying of mental hospitals contribute to homelessness?U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diseases of the mind: Highlights of American psychiatry through 1900.Marshall M, Crowther R, Sledge WH, Rathbone J, Soares-Weiser K.Day hospital versus admission for acute psychiatric disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Dec 7;2011(12):CD004026. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004026.pub2Saya A, Brugnoli C, Piazzi G, et al.Criteria, procedures, and future prospects of involuntary treatment in psychiatry around the world: A narrative review.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:271. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00271John Hopkins Public Health Preparedness Programs.Emergency detention of persons deemed a danger to themselves and others during public health emergencies.Dalton-Locke C, Marston L, McPherson P, Killaspy H.The effectiveness of mental health rehabilitation services: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.Front Psychiatry. 2021;11:607933. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.607933Clarke A, Glick ID.The crisis in psychiatric hospital care: changing the model to continuous, integrative behavioral health care.PS. 2020;71(2):165-169. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900259Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Civil commitment and the mental health care continuum: Historical trends and principles for law and practice.Olfson M, Wall M, Wang S, et al.Short-term suicide risk after psychiatric hospital discharge.JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(11):1119. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2035Madsen T, Egilsdottir E, Damgaard C, Erlangsen A, Nordentoft M.Assessment of suicide risks during the first week immediately after discharge from psychiatric inpatient facility.Front Psychiatry. 2021;0. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643303Killaspy H, Marston L, Green N, Harrison I, Lean M, Holloway F, Craig T, Leavey G, Arbuthnott M, Koeser L, McCrone P, Omar RZ, King M.Clinical outcomes and costs for people with complex psychosis; a naturalistic prospective cohort study of mental health rehabilitation service users in England.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:95. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0797-6

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute of Mental Health.Mental illness.The New York Times.The first insane asylum: To Virginia belongs the credit in this country.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diseases of the mind: Highlights of American psychiatry through 1900.KQED.Did the emptying of mental hospitals contribute to homelessness?U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diseases of the mind: Highlights of American psychiatry through 1900.Marshall M, Crowther R, Sledge WH, Rathbone J, Soares-Weiser K.Day hospital versus admission for acute psychiatric disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Dec 7;2011(12):CD004026. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004026.pub2Saya A, Brugnoli C, Piazzi G, et al.Criteria, procedures, and future prospects of involuntary treatment in psychiatry around the world: A narrative review.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:271. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00271John Hopkins Public Health Preparedness Programs.Emergency detention of persons deemed a danger to themselves and others during public health emergencies.Dalton-Locke C, Marston L, McPherson P, Killaspy H.The effectiveness of mental health rehabilitation services: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.Front Psychiatry. 2021;11:607933. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.607933Clarke A, Glick ID.The crisis in psychiatric hospital care: changing the model to continuous, integrative behavioral health care.PS. 2020;71(2):165-169. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900259Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Civil commitment and the mental health care continuum: Historical trends and principles for law and practice.Olfson M, Wall M, Wang S, et al.Short-term suicide risk after psychiatric hospital discharge.JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(11):1119. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2035Madsen T, Egilsdottir E, Damgaard C, Erlangsen A, Nordentoft M.Assessment of suicide risks during the first week immediately after discharge from psychiatric inpatient facility.Front Psychiatry. 2021;0. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643303Killaspy H, Marston L, Green N, Harrison I, Lean M, Holloway F, Craig T, Leavey G, Arbuthnott M, Koeser L, McCrone P, Omar RZ, King M.Clinical outcomes and costs for people with complex psychosis; a naturalistic prospective cohort study of mental health rehabilitation service users in England.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:95. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0797-6

National Institute of Mental Health.Mental illness.

The New York Times.The first insane asylum: To Virginia belongs the credit in this country.

U.S. National Library of Medicine.Diseases of the mind: Highlights of American psychiatry through 1900.

KQED.Did the emptying of mental hospitals contribute to homelessness?

Marshall M, Crowther R, Sledge WH, Rathbone J, Soares-Weiser K.Day hospital versus admission for acute psychiatric disorders.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Dec 7;2011(12):CD004026. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004026.pub2

Saya A, Brugnoli C, Piazzi G, et al.Criteria, procedures, and future prospects of involuntary treatment in psychiatry around the world: A narrative review.Front Psychiatry. 2019;10:271. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00271

John Hopkins Public Health Preparedness Programs.Emergency detention of persons deemed a danger to themselves and others during public health emergencies.

Dalton-Locke C, Marston L, McPherson P, Killaspy H.The effectiveness of mental health rehabilitation services: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.Front Psychiatry. 2021;11:607933. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.607933

Clarke A, Glick ID.The crisis in psychiatric hospital care: changing the model to continuous, integrative behavioral health care.PS. 2020;71(2):165-169. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201900259

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Civil commitment and the mental health care continuum: Historical trends and principles for law and practice.

Olfson M, Wall M, Wang S, et al.Short-term suicide risk after psychiatric hospital discharge.JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(11):1119. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.2035

Madsen T, Egilsdottir E, Damgaard C, Erlangsen A, Nordentoft M.Assessment of suicide risks during the first week immediately after discharge from psychiatric inpatient facility.Front Psychiatry. 2021;0. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643303

Killaspy H, Marston L, Green N, Harrison I, Lean M, Holloway F, Craig T, Leavey G, Arbuthnott M, Koeser L, McCrone P, Omar RZ, King M.Clinical outcomes and costs for people with complex psychosis; a naturalistic prospective cohort study of mental health rehabilitation service users in England.BMC Psychiatry. 2016;16:95. doi:10.1186/s12888-016-0797-6

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