Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) provide intensive psychiatric treatment for patients who require more support than traditional outpatient care, but less than a full hospitalization. They benefit individuals who feel inpatient treatment won’t meet their needs. What do people need to know about these programs today?

Partial Hospitalization Treatments

Common treatments used in PHPs include medication management, group therapy, psychoeducation, and skills training. Medication management involves meeting with a psychiatrist to find the right medications and dosages to stabilize symptoms. Group therapy allows patients to discuss their concerns and receive feedback from peers. Psychoeducation teaches patients and their families about their diagnoses, symptoms, and treatments. Skills training focuses on building coping strategies like mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Other services like family therapy, art therapy, occupational therapy, or nutritional counseling may also be offered. The multi-modal approach of PHPs help patients manage acute symptoms while developing long-term tools for handling stress and staying well after discharge. The supportive environment of a partial hospitalization program in orange county facilitates recovery in a less restrictive setting than hospitalization.

The Goal of Partial Hospitalization

The focus is on stabilization and transition. Partial hospitalization allows individuals to receive intensive support without fully disrupting their life at home and work. It aims to provide a safe step-down from acute inpatient care or as a way to avert the need for full hospitalization during an emotional/behavioral crisis. The structured programming and peer support during the day can help manage symptoms while the person still benefits from family and community support outside program hours.

Participation is voluntary in partial hospitalization. Individuals attend by choice, with referrals often coming from clinicians, family, hospitals, or at the individual’s request. Programs screen applicants to ensure they do not require a more restrictive inpatient level of care. PHPs can prevent full hospitalization for patients not in immediate crisis but still requiring intensive treatment.

Conditions Treated in PHPs

The types of conditions treated in partial hospitalization typically include major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, substance abuse, and co-occurring mental illness/substance use disorders. The environment allows clinicians to monitor individuals at higher risk closely while providing intensive therapies aimed at crisis stabilization, relapse prevention, or avoiding the need for full hospitalization.

The Drawbacks of Partial Hospitalization Programs

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) can be beneficial for some individuals struggling with mental health issues, providing more support than outpatient care but less restriction than inpatient care. However, PHPs also have some drawbacks.

One is the limited hours.  PHPs typically operate during business hours on weekdays only. This makes it difficult for patients to attend if they have school, jobs, or other commitments during those times.

Additionally, the temporary nature of PHPs, where patients attend for just a few weeks, may not allow enough time for meaningful change or growth to occur. The group therapy format is not ideal for everyone, as some patients may not feel comfortable opening up in that setting.

Furthermore, PHPs are less intensive than 24-hour inpatient care, so extremely high-risk patients may require a higher level of supervision and support. While PHPs serve an important role, their limitations in schedule, duration, setting, and intensity of care might render them inappropriate or insufficient treatment for some individuals.

Overall, partial hospitalization aims to provide intensive support and therapeutic intervention without removing individuals entirely from their daily lives. For many people, it offers a step-down after a hospital stay or a less restrictive option when in crisis. Under the close supervision of a treatment team, partial hospitalization allows people to receive care while still maintaining ties to family, employment, and community.