Adapting a Model for Veterans on a Psychiatric Inpatient Unit

Adapting a Critical Time Intervention Model for Veterans on a Psychiatric Inpatient Unit

This randomized controlled study tests an adapted critical time intervention model for veterans discharged from a psychiatric inpatient unit. It is hypothesized that veterans on the inpatient unit who are assigned to such a community-based team will have shorter lengths of inpatient stay and better mental health. There have been few developments of community-based models of care in the post-deinstitutionalization era of short inpatient stays and the results of the study may inform how inpatient stays can be further reduced.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Admitted to the psychiatric inpatient unit for at least 4 days
2. Willing to participate in community-based treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Actively suicidal or homicidal
2. Dementia
3. Drug or alcohol detoxification
4. Physician emergency certificate