Published online by Cambridge University Press: 07 November 2014
The general goals for recovery of patients with schizophrenia are relatively simple: to improve patients' functioning, enable them to return to work or school, and allow them resume normal lives. However, there are differences between inpatient and outpatient treatment as it relates to some of these goals. For example, a hospitalized patient who has just suffered an acute episode may not be able to realistically meet the abovementioned goals. In such cases, clinicians must try to meet more feasible goals: moving patients from an acute episode to remission, reducing symptoms, improving function, and achieving stability outside of the hospital (Slide 1). This road to recovery involves two phases of treatment, inpatient and outpatient, which differ in their pursuit of patient stability. This discussion will touch on some of the differences between inpatient and outpatient treatment as it relates to acute goals and successful long-term treatment.