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Inpatient vs outpatient psychiatry - A thread #psychtwitter
Often we see debates about psych treatments w/out any mention of setting. Inpatient/ER & outpatient mental health professionals may have different perspectives on treatments. Not bc one is right & the
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Often we see debates about psych treatments w/out any mention of setting. Inpatient/ER & outpatient mental health professionals may have different perspectives on treatments. Not bc one is right & the
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other wrong, but simply bc inpatient and outpatient psych r drastically different.
Here is a review of some differences as they relate to treatment:
1. Goals - The primary goal of inpatient psych is to help a person get well enough to exist outside of the hospital.
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Here is a review of some differences as they relate to treatment:
1. Goals - The primary goal of inpatient psych is to help a person get well enough to exist outside of the hospital.
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The goal of outpatient psych is very individualized & evolves
over time for many pple.
2. Risk/benefits - The risk/benefit evaluation for inpatient & outpatient psych r very different for many reasons
-The best data on psychotropics come from relatively short term
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over time for many pple.
2. Risk/benefits - The risk/benefit evaluation for inpatient & outpatient psych r very different for many reasons
-The best data on psychotropics come from relatively short term
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studies. Things become grayer when considering longer term efficacy, relapse prevention & very long term safety.
-Some of the adverse side effects of meds (like weight gain and decreased libido) r more problematic long term than short. These types of side effects also become
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-Some of the adverse side effects of meds (like weight gain and decreased libido) r more problematic long term than short. These types of side effects also become
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less of a priority when acute safety is a concern. Thus they become more of a concern in outpatient psych.
3. Complexity - Humans r complex & not surprisingly so r mental health issues. Often there r many things going on at once. Often inpatient care more narrowly focuses
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3. Complexity - Humans r complex & not surprisingly so r mental health issues. Often there r many things going on at once. Often inpatient care more narrowly focuses
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on the most acute issue. Given this, treatments that address a singular symptom may be appropriate. In contrast, outpatient care needs to include more holistic & transdiagnostic treatments in order to cover a breadth of issues while minimizing exposure to side effects.
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In the end, the treatments that r appropriate in inpatient care for someone (including type & dose) may not always be appropriate in outpatient care. Similarly, someone who works predominantly in the inpatient setting may view certain treatments differently than someone
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in outpatient. Again, this is a matter of perspective.
We need more nuanced discussions re: mental health care. Instead of limiting discussions to which treatments r appropriate, we need to also be talking about when & for how long.
#mentalhealth #psychtwitter
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We need more nuanced discussions re: mental health care. Instead of limiting discussions to which treatments r appropriate, we need to also be talking about when & for how long.
#mentalhealth #psychtwitter
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