ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the special problems encountered by clinical psychologists in mental hospitals; although, some of its conclusions may have relevance to other professions as well. It presents this analysis with the hope that it might inspire corrective measures to overcome some of the major reservations that many psychologists have about functioning in a mental hospital. One of the psychologist's major clinical skills is that which enables him to formulate a dynamically oriented evaluation of a disturbed individual's personality. The psychologist may respond with frustration to the discrepancy existing between what reasonably may be expected of him and the need of the referring physician. Research is one of the psychologist's areas of special training and competence; therefore, it should be a particularly attractive activity to him and yield much in the way of job satisfaction. The desirable mental hospital attempts to attract personnel by making the work situation a continuous learning process.
