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One hundred consecutive admissions to a Psychiatric Day Hospital were studied. Outcome was assessed in terms of regularity and duration of Day Hospital attendance, transfer to inpatient care, and return to employment of unemployed patients. None of these outcome measures showed significant differences when groups of patients were compared according to age, sex or diagnosis. Similarly, no differences were found when patients living alone were compared with patients living with families, between employed and unemployed patients, between patients referred from in-patient care and those referred from out-patients, or when patients were compared according to their preferred types of Day Hospital activity.

One hundred and sixty-five patients were seen after one week of day-hospital attendance, and 82 of them four weeks later. Their demographic characteristics, and their preferences in day-hospital treatment are described. Non specific factors of getting out of the home and mixing with other people, the opportunity to discuss problems, and taking part in various occupational activities concerned with improving coping skills were seen by the patients as valuable. Staff visits to the patient's home, family interviews and ward rounds were much less supported.

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