Inpatient vs Residential Treatment For Mental Disorders

People with mental illness vary in condition and severity of their conditions, and therefore require varying types and levels of care. Outpatient treatment or partial hospitalization are more common among people with mental illness. However, for more severe mental health conditions, inpatient treatments or residential treatments are recommended.

Inpatient Treatment

This treatment option is most likely the most intensive out of all treatment options, and is offered to patients with severe mental illness or disorders. You can avail this 24-hour secure treatment service for a short period at hospitals or treatment facilities. Patients are closely monitored for their own well-being, such as being prevented to cause self-harm either consciously or subconsciously.

The ultimate goal of this kind of treatment is to stabilize the symptoms and find ways to inhibit them in addition to developing a treatment plan customized to the condition and needs of the patient.

Residential Treatment

This kind of treatment differentiates from inpatient treatment with regards to the amount of support given to patients and the environment patients are in. Residential treatment refers to treatment centers that are set-up in home-like environments to allow patients to feel like at ease. The medical staff available in these residential treatment centers are always around to support patients through their recovery, but their assistance may not be as available or focused to individual needs. Since individual conditions are monitored less, it’s highly likely that patients may spend a longer treatment duration in comparison to people who have opted for inpatient treatment.
It would be prudent to consult with your primary medical attendant on which type of treatment option would be more ideal for your condition.