ABSTRACT
The predicted trend towards short-term psychiatric care has become an economic reality. The development of effective psycho-pharmacology for the treatment of major mental disorders has enabled patients to reorganize quickly. Since the ultimate goal of short-term hospitalization is a successful community adjustment, studies which address predictive factors, have particular importance for psychiatric occupational therapists. Re-hospitalization is both stressful and expensive to patients already suffering from mental illness. Short-term psychiatric treatment is one of the most challenging, yet frustrating arenas for the clinician. This treatment has serious implications for the role of occupational therapy. Occupational therapists are only beginning to realize the potential of their services in the psychiatric short-term setting. The manuscripts were selected to provide occupational therapists with an examination of the issues germane to their role, common problems, and specific programs in short-term psychiatric treatment.
