Today, there is a growing trend toward outpatient psychiatric treatment. Outpatient psychiatric treatment meaning embodies any type of psychiatric care where you don’t reside at a facility overnight and instead go to a treatment center or an office at scheduled times during the day to receive services.
This type of treatment has increased since the pandemic, as more and more people are realizing that prioritizing mental health does not mean having to give up independence and temporarily moving away from home.
Understanding Outpatient Psychiatric Treatment
What is outpatient psychiatric treatment? This is any form of treatment where you go to your respective treatment center for psychiatric care on a part-time or full-time schedule, but you don’t stay overnight. You are not admitted as you would be to a hospital; instead, you get to return home at the end of each session you have.
Comparison of Outpatient vs. Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment
When you look at the outpatient psychiatric treatment definition, the biggest difference between inpatient vs. outpatient psychiatric treatment is the fact that you don’t have to remain at a facility overnight. With an inpatient program you would be checked in just like a hospital, and you would remain at that facility until such time as your treatment was over which could be several weeks. There are other key differences as well.
Accessibility
For many people, psychiatric outpatient treatment is much more accessible. This type of program might be available in areas where an inpatient program simply doesn’t exist. Treatment facilities need an entirely different set of accommodations and staff members, as well as certifications, in order to offer overnight services.
Cost Effectiveness
Given what goes into the accommodations and staff, as well as full-time services for an inpatient program, they tend to cost significantly more compared to a traditional outpatient program. For this reason, many people find that one of the most important differences between inpatient vs. outpatient psychiatric treatment has to do with the cost.
Outpatient psychiatric treatment is simply much more affordable.
Treatment Duration and Intensity
The affordability actually lends itself to another key difference, which is the treatment duration and intensity. Given that programs are more affordable when they are outpatient psychiatric treatment programs, many patients find that they can pay for a longer program length, several months’ worth of help, for the same amount that they would pay for only a few weeks of inpatient services.
Depending on the condition for which you are trying to seek treatment, the longevity associated with reduced cost and wider availability means that you are more likely to get substantial help that can support you with long-term management over an inpatient program that might be very short.
The intensity of an inpatient vs. outpatient psychiatric treatment program is also different; most inpatient programs are significantly more intense because you reside at the facility full-time and, therefore, have a full-time schedule focused on your treatment. This means that all day, every day, you participate in a combination of things like individual and group therapy as well as other holistic treatments as part of your program.
Outpatient programs are typically designed to be part-time, so the commitment each day might only be a couple of hours, or you might only have a few days per week where you receive treatment instead of every single day.
Benefits of Outpatient Psychiatric Treatment
There are several benefits associated with psychiatric outpatient treatment.
Maintaining Normal Daily Life
One of the biggest benefits is the fact that you can maintain your normal daily life. What most people Overlook is the benefit of being able to maintain daily life in so far as you get a chance to practice things like coping mechanisms, trigger management, and stress management techniques that are taught during your sessions.
Each time you go home, you can practice the things you learn in real-time and, during subsequent therapy sessions or other group sessions, report on how effective you found certain techniques. This can be a great opportunity for you to monitor your progress and make changes to things like coping mechanisms or self-care techniques that aren’t working as well.
Moreover, it gives you the opportunity to maintain a normal daily life with regard to things like family, friends, work obligations, or school.
Support Systems
As mentioned, you have the chance to practice things in real time and this means that you get to capitalize on the support systems that are available to you. Outpatient psychiatric treatment gives you access to more support systems in the form of individual and group therapy, several forms of case management professionals, doctors, and other Personnel depending on the type of program you have.
Patient Autonomy and Empowerment
With an outpatient program, you’re guaranteed more autonomy and empowerment. For many people, inpatient programs can seem much more frightening and off-putting because so much of your individual autonomy and independence is given up when you check yourself into a facility for full-time supervision.
Continuous Care
Outpatient programs can provide continuous care, offering you services that last longer than inpatient programs, with opportunities for support groups and other community care throughout the rest of your recovery.
Challenges of Inpatient Care
There are several challenges associated with choosing an inpatient program.
Disruption to Daily Life
The biggest challenge is the disruption to daily life. Inpatient programs require you to leave your regular life and reside at a treatment center full-time, which means you will be unable to participate in any work or school obligations or be with your family.
Stigma and Isolation
Being away from family and friends means extreme isolation, placing yourself in a facility surrounded by strangers. There is also a risk of stigma associated with an inpatient program.
Institutional Environment
For many people, the institutional environment of a structured daily plan with a full-time commitment to mental health might be too rigid.
Choosing the Right Type of Psychiatric Treatment
Understanding the outpatient psychiatric treatment definition is only one step in finding the right treatment. There are several factors that you should consider when evaluating different options, such as:
- The severity of your condition: more severe conditions might necessitate inpatient programs, especially if you are unable to maintain your independence and care for yourself.
- Any immediate risks; if there is a risk of self-harm or harm to others, inpatient programs might be recommended over outpatient psychiatric treatment.
- Individual preferences: consider whether you would like to be able to extricate yourself from your daily life and focus entirely on your mental health or whether you would like the ability to maintain some autonomy while also practicing coping skills and other lessons in real time.
Always consult with professionals before you decide. If you have more questions about the applicability of an inpatient or an outpatient program based on your condition or your needs, schedule consultations with different psychiatrists and other medical professionals to see which would be a better fit.
Conclusion
There are several key advantages associated with outpatient psychiatric treatment, specifically the ability to maintain your regular life, the option for continuous care, support systems, and autonomy. Moreover, outpatient programs are typically more affordable, less intense, and more accessible. If you or someone close to you is looking for psychiatric treatment, consider outpatient care as a viable option.