ABSTRACT
Inpatient psychiatric treatment has been undergoing significant change stimulated by a multitude of forces within and outside of the psychiatric establishment. Occupational therapists face serious questions concerning the scope and purpose of their services in short-term inpatient treatment. A long-range issue for therapists specializing in mental health, concerns the profession's role in the changing configuration of health care delivery systems. The unprecedented shift away from institution-based psychiatric treatment and the reductions of inpatient insurance coverage open the door to those who can provide viable service alternatives. Similarly, the limitations of acute care, which preclude a significant portion of traditional occupational therapy services, lead to a greater emphasis on referral to community programs. Concurrent with the significant impact that reduced treatment time has upon the practice of occupational therapy, other pressures are rapidly becoming major issues. Emphasis on symptom reduction and other short range, problem-oriented interventions may overshadow the more holistic philosophy of occupational therapy.
