Psychological test comparison of day hospital and inpatient treatment

Abstract

Tested hypotheses, empirically generated from rating scales, which predicted that patients treated in partial, day hospital settings improve more in intellectual efficiency and social interaction than patients treated in full time, inpatient settings. Thirty matched pairs of day hospital and inpatient volunteers were administered a group psychological test battery at the beginning of treatment and then 5 weeks later. The day hospital sample differed significantly on 7 of 24 pre‐ and posttest measures, the inpatient sample on 2. Gains occurred primarily in increased intellectual efficiency and social interaction. Multiple discriminant function analyses yielded no significant pretest differences, but posttest differences approached significance (p < .06); day hospital patients registered increased Extraversion (Eysenck Personality Inventory).