Outpatient Vs. Inpatient Treatment

Outpatient Treatment - A type of care used to treat those in need of eating disorder treatment, drug rehab, or pain treatment, to name a few. These types of programs can be very useful to those who must continue to work or attend school. Programs for outpatient treatment vary depending on the patient’s needs and the facility but they typically meet a couple of times every week for a few hours at a time.

Inpatient Treatment - A type of treatment in which a patient is provided with 24 hour care at a live-in facility. Both psychiatric and physical health assistance are included in this treatment. In most cases, patients will stay at inpatient treatment facilities for months at a time.

Decision Criteria For Inpatient

Patient is at high risk for complicated withdrawal. Current overdose-in-progress compromising vital signs, mental status or cardiac function, or life-threatening stupor.

Head trauma, seizure, hallucinations, or symptoms of delirium tremens within the past 24 hours.

Patient is at high risk for biomedical complications: Βiomedical problem(s) requiring treatment, such as, impending hepatic

decompensation, acute pancreatitis or other condition requiring parenteral therapy, active gastrointestinal bleeding requiring monitoring, etc.Chemical use gravely complicating existing biomedical condition, or worsening of a condition making immediate abstinence critical to avoid severe morbidity or mortality.

Patient is at high risk for psychiatric or behavioral complications: Uncontrolled behavior endangering self or others

Impairment of cognitive function, mental confusion or fluctuating orientation, or extreme depression such that activities of daily living are impeded. Εvidence of disorientation to self, alcoholic hallucinosis, or toxic psychosis.

Decision Criteria For Outpatient

We can say that patients are appropriate for outpatient detoxification if they do not meet criteria for inpatient detoxification.

Patient is at minimal risk of severe withdrawal:With minimal or no medication that might mask signs or

symptoms of withdrawal.Reliable history that use of substances in combination

does not pose a significant risk of complicated withdrawal.Presence of support services to ensure commitment to

complete detoxification and enter treatment.Patient has, and responds positively to, emotional support

combined with treatment, and evidences decreased emotional symptoms by closure of initial treatment session.

Similarities

Inpatient and outpatient addiction treatment programs have many characteristics in common.

For instance, both types of programs generally utilize individual and group therapy. Because addiction has an effect on the entire family, most provide couples and family therapy.

Inpatient and outpatient programs also educate the addict and the family about the nature of addiction while guiding the addict through goal setting and monitoring of those goals.

Differences

Those who receive help through an inpatient treatment program remain at a treatment facility 24/7. The exact number of days the patient remains at the inpatient treatment facility depends on the policies of the rehab center and the individual needs of the patient.

After intensive inpatient treatment is complete, it is generally suggested that the patient receive extensive outpatient treatment.

An outpatient addiction treatment program, on the other hand, allows the patient to remain at home while undergoing treatment.

In an outpatient program, the patient attends treatment during the day.

As with inpatient treatment, the number of days attending treatment per week and the length of the program depends on the rehab center policies and the individual needs of the addict.

85% of people participating in an addiction recovery program opt for outpatient treatment.

Participants: This study includes 95 participants: 52 female and male patients in the treatment group and 43 in a comparison group.Results: The participants of the treatment group were able to maintain or stabilize their mental health better than the participants of the control group.

The participants’ dependence on insurance benefits was also reduced. Nevertheless, no significant differences arose between participants and the comparison group during the periods of paying into insurance.

The results of this long-term follow-up study suggest patients receiving an aftercare treatment have better chance to support their state of health.

This study shows significantly that aftercare participants are able to maintain or even improve on their diminished level of symptoms or complaints achieved after inpatient treatment and following aftercare.

Results of long-term follow-up study of inpatient psychotherapy followed by systematic outpatient psychotherapeutic aftercare.

Case Study

Sources

Results of long-term follow-up study of inpatient psychotherapy followed by systematic outpatient psychotherapeutic aftercare.Authors:Kobelt, A. Schmid-Ott, G.Source: Psychology, Health & Medicine; Jan2010, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p94-104, 11p.http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.dwc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=974ad246-6a6e-4775-a878-f89ce795f352%40sessionmgr14&vid=5&hid=17&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=hch&AN=47712418

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment for Adolescents with ANTitle: Inpatient vs. Outpatient Treatment for Adolescents with AN. Eating Disorders Review, 10486984, Jul/Aug2010, Vol. 21, Issue 4.Database: Academic Search Premier.http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.dwc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=2bc9ddc2-16d4-441b-9840-70c053e17b83%40sessionmgr12&vid=2&hid=17&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=57523168

Early short-term inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment versus continued outpatient psychotherapy on psychosocial outcome: a randomized controlled trial in trauma patientsAuthors:Tecic T; Schneider A; Althaus A; Schmidt Y; Bierbaum C; Lefering R; Mueller D; Bouillon B; Janssen C; Pfaff H; Erli HJ; Rangger C; Neugebauer EA.Source:Journal of Trauma (J TRAUMA), 2011 Feb; 70(2): 433-41.http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.dwc.edu/ehost/detail?sid=a0e41a28-9d90-4319-99c1-684b99eba606%40sessionmgr10&vid=1&hid=8&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=rzh&AN=2010975000