In April 1961 the mental hospital 'Wolfheze' started a day hospital in Velp. Psychiatric patients of various diagnoses were admitted if there was no contraindication (very chaotic or suicidal behaviour, insufficient social back ground).
A description is given of the treatmentprogram, consisting of intensive verbal and non-verbal psychotherapy, individual and in groups. After three years the daily attendance is plm. 25 patients, the total number of day-patients is plm. 45, about half of them being part-time patients. The relations of the patients are invited to participate in the treatment. After a discussion of the experiences in the dayhospital with regard to the intake of new patients, the treament situation and the discharge procedure in comparison to the mental hospital, the conclusions are:
1. in the dayhospital with regard to the intake of new patients, the treatment disorders (average duration of illness over 5 years) than the mental hospital.
2. it offers a treatment situation that makes the patients and their social relations approachable in the fieldsituation in which their illnesses originated; side-affect of treatment (e.g. hospitalisation symptoms), are less likely to occur.
3. the dayhospital offers an opportunity to discharge the patient gradually, with little danger of a sudden relaps into psychosis.